Get to Know God as Father - Daily Hope with Rick Warren - October 8, 2021
2021Oct 08
Get to Know God as Father By Rick Warren
“This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.’”Matthew 6:9 (NIV)
In the Old Testament, God is called “Father” only seven times. People just didn’t think of God as Father. They thought of him as Creator, Almighty One, God of Israel, and so on.
Then Jesus came along and said this is how people should pray: Call him “Father.” Jesus uses the expression more than 150 times when he refers to God.
In calling God “Father,” Jesus shattered stereotypes of God. God is not an angry tyrant, the universal killjoy, or an impersonal force. Instead, he is a personal God, and he created you with the ability to have a relationship with him. That’s what he wants more than anything else.
There’s only one problem. For many people, the word “father” is a negative term; it brings up all kinds of bad memories. A lot of people say, “‘Our Father in heaven’? If God’s like my father, then no thanks.”
The truth is, while many people have wonderful fathers, other fathers are fickle, moody, abusive, controlling, and violent. Saying “our Father in heaven” can carry painful baggage.
Many people unconsciously think God is like their earthly father. This may not be a problem if their father was kind, wise, and loving. But if their father was unreasonable, they think God is unreasonable. If he was unreliable, that must mean God is unreliable. If they have a hard time connecting with their father, they assume they’ll have a hard time connecting with God.
When you project your hurts and emotions onto God, it’s no wonder you have a hard time connecting with him. Misconceptions will keep you disconnected from God.
Instead, let go of misconceptions and myths so you can understand the truth about God the Father. He loves you, and he’s with you and for you! You’ll find that truth will set you free—free to know God and to love him!
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Build a Firm Foundation of Prayer in the Next Generation!
“Perhaps the most important role you can play in the life of a child is teaching them to trust God through prayer. It’s the key to living with hope.” —Pastor Rick
That’s why it’s so important to strengthen the hope of kids by introducing them to Jesus’ model for prayer at an early age. And we’re excited to help you do that with Pastor Rick’s children’s book, The Lord’s Prayer: Words of Hope and Happiness.
Filled with thoughtful insights from Pastor Rick as well as stunning illustrations from award-winning artist, Richard Jesse Watson, this book brings the poetic scripture from the King James Version alive for readers young and old. It’s sure to become a meaningful bedtime ritual, a treasured memory, and by God’s grace, a legacy that bears good fruit for generations to come.
This book is a perfect way to share the beauty and richness of The Lord’s Prayer with the children the Lord has placed in your life. And it’s our thanks for your gift below to help Daily Hope take the Good News to more people everywhere. So please request a copy for yourself or a friend today, and thanks for your generosity!
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