Father’s Day didn’t have any meaning to me for most of my life, my biological father was abusive, and it was just a bad reminder of the past, but Father’s Day brings new meaning since I met my spiritual father.
According to the U.S. Census, approximately 15 million people in the U.S are fatherless. My earthly father was not a good father at all. He provided none of the essentials that I needed as a child or even now as an adult. My relationship with my biological father was anything but loving and trusting, and for the first 9 years of my life, it was torture.
After being placed in a foster home for a substantial portion of my childhood even there I did not have a father. At church, I was told that God was my father, but to me, that did not equate because of the experiences that I had already had. How could I see God as my Father when my biological Father caused me so much pain and abuse?
I have always loved God but accepting him as a Father was difficult. I had such a tainted view of what a Father really was, and I couldn’t grasp the magnitude of God’s love for me as Father.
It took the love of a spiritual father to change my mind about what a father was. A spiritual father is a father figure within the Body of Christ.
It was because of his relentless love and acceptance that I could finally see the Heavenly Father in a true light.
Seeing A Loving Father for the First Time
My Spiritual Father
I did not know I needed a Father figure, but God knew I needed a Father figure. It was amazing, God gave me so much more than just a Father, he gave me a Dad. We have a trusting, healthy father/daughter relationship and I thank God every day for that blessing in my life.
I can’t thank him enough for his love, and commitment to me. My Dad corrects me when I am wrong, and he forgives me even when I don’t deserve it. That’s the thing, a real father always forgives, and moves on, just like our Heavenly Father. A Spiritual father will always express and exemplify knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. A spiritual father will always give sound counsel and pour out blessings. A spiritual father will nurture and protect. He never leaves you even when you have messed up. A spiritual father will use those moments as teaching moments. A spiritual father should always be a representation of the heavenly father.
My Dad has also taught me a few other things, like how a real father is supposed to be.
1. My Father will never leave me.
God promises, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).
God is deeply, unshakably committed to you. You never have to ask whether he will stay or leave.
My Dad shows me that a real Father will always be there no matter what. I never have to worry that he will get tired of me one day and be done with me, that’s not how a father/daughter relationship works.
2. The Father knows what I need.
Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.” (Matthew 6:8)
My spiritual father always seems to know what I need spiritual and mentally and offers loving advice with respect to who I am a daughter.
3. The Father takes great delight in his children.
God says, in Isaiah 43:44″ you all “his children” are precious in my eyes,”
Without any love or encouragement from my dad, I could easily question whether I was loved at all. I used to constantly battle with how much I was worth.
4. The Father loves Unconditionally
(Romans 5:6–8) He is a hope for the abandoned, a refuge for the fearful, a Father to the fatherless.
Thankfully, our heavenly Father’s love for us is not conditional. He does not love us based on what we do to deserve his love. God loves us just because he loves us. Even when we’re disobedient and rebellious, He loves us.
God reaches out to you in great love even when you are at your worst.
Father’s hold such a vital role in our lives. In a Christian home, they are the beginning foundation of what our relationship will look like with our Heavenly Father.
If you don’t have a Father, consider reaching out to someone that has a close relationship with God and accept them as a mentor and if you are approached reciprocate. Maybe you don’t have a father, but you have a person in your life that has made an impact in your life, thank them for this.
Lastly, remember we all have our Father in Heaven. You can’t get any better than that. Make sure you honor him this Sunday and every day after.
Happy Father’s Day!
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