IN HIS ARMS

"...Our father in heaven," 

Matthew 6:9 

As I type, I am humming my favorite line from my favorite hymn, 'What a Friend We Have in Jesus.'

...In His arms, He'll take and shield you, you will find a solace there. 

Take a moment and just breathe in those words. Let it simmer, and sink in. Feel that warmth? Mmm-hmm. Oh, how I love that feeling. 

In Genesis 16:13, after Hagar's encounter with an Angel of God, she exclaimed in pure wonder, have I also here seen Him who sees me?

Somehow, I can't help but imagine the reaction of Mary and Martha, and the other onlookers in John 11:35 as Jesus wept. I wonder if the expression on my face mirrored theirs as it slowly dawned on them just how much Jesus loved Lazarus and how much He was moved by their pain and grief. 

In times when I have been at my lowest and felt God's loving arms around me, like Hagar, I too have cried out in pure wonder, have I now seen Him who sees me?

It is truly such a beautiful moment of total surrender- where, instead of falling apart like we feared, we fall into the ever-open arms of our father. It is in those times it really dawns on me that God is not just the God Almighty, but He is also my loving Father. 

Yes, He can go to war for us, fight a bloody battle, and defeat all the Philistines and Amalekites in our lives plot, but He can also be a loving father who puts a blanket over us when we are cold and alone. The loving father who makes sure you have socks on your feet because He knows your feet get cold at night. The loving father who is simply there to offer His massive shoulder to you so you can rest your heavy head. The loving father who stands before you, hands outstretched to pick you up and carry you. I can go on and on, but you get the picture. 

Though some of you may have dysfunctional relationships with your earthly fathers that have unfortunately distorted your views of what a true father is and how much you need one in your lives. I hope this post stirs up a longing in your heart for this pure, incorruptible, and unbreakable loving Father-daughter/son relationship God wants to have with you. 

If you are at the stage in your spiritual walk where you're reading about God, about Jesus but somehow still have an impersonal relationship with Him, because you can't help but picture Him as a Robotic Arnold Schwarzenegger in the movie, Terminator. Trust me, you are not alone. Although the Bible shows records of Jesus displaying various human emotions, for some reason, I still pictured Him as an unsmiling robot-like man walking down the streets of Jerusalem, only stopping at intervals to pronounce a non-commital and impersonal 'be thou healed.' Crazzzyyy huh?

I thank God to date for that faithful day when John 11:35 and its implication entirely changed my view of Jesus. We also just concluded a prayer school titled ABBA Father in church, so I am grateful to have received that reminder to always approach God as my father first and foremost as that would set the tone for the rest of my conversation with Him. 

Below, I have highlighted some scriptures. I pray as you read, study, and meditate on these scriptures that your eyes become opened to see just how much you are loved by your Father in heaven. Remember, you are seen, you are heard, and you are LOVED. 

Song of the week: Good Good Father by Chris Tomlin and Reckless Love by Cory Asbury

Study Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 6:18, 1 John 3:1, Galatians 3:26, John 1:12, Romans 8:15,  Psalm 68:5, Matthew 6:5-14, Matthew 6:25-34, Matthew 7:9-11, James 1:17, and 2 Corinthians 1:3-4.