Father’s Day always generates reflections about what it means to be a father. My first thoughts are those of gratitude at being a father to four wonderful children. I also think of the blessing of having a wonderful, loving father as mine was to me. But most of all, I think of what I have learned and experienced to be the heart of my Heavenly Father. I can see part of our Heavenly Father’s love reflected in my dad’s life and relationship with me, as I desire His love to be the heart I have towards my own children, but most of all, I simply stand in grateful amazement for the heart of God, our Heavenly Father.
As I think of some of the things I know about the heart of God, I realize more who I need to be and what my heart should be. I am grateful both for the blessing of a Heavenly Father with such a heart for His children, but also for the model it gives me for my life. Here are some aspects of the Father’s heart I experience daily and learn about more deeply, the longer I live.
A Protecting Heart: Our Father is a Father who protects. He does not always keep us from adversity, as adversity is sometimes a great benefit for our lives. But in and through it all, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.” Proverbs 18:10
A Providing Heart: Over and over God proves Himself to be “Jehovah Jireh,” “The God who Provides.” He provides for us physically, monetarily, emotionally, spiritually, in every way and for every need. How true are the words of Scripture that God will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).
A Compassionate Heart: There are many qualities that describe our Heavenly Father, but compassionate is one that is often overlooked. We think of God as powerful, wise, righteous, and just, and so He is, but He is also marked by His compassion. Because of His great compassion toward us, He is patient and long-suffering with us. He is slow to anger and quick to forgive. His compassions fail not (Lamentations 3:22). In fact, they are new for us every morning. We can always come to our Father, no matter what we have done, and know that He will meet us with compassion.
A Loving Heart: There is no way to adequately describe the love that is God’s heart for us. His loving heart is expressed as a sacrificial heart, a forgiving heart, a pursuing heart, a welcoming heart…… the list goes on and on. He offers us pure love, freely given. It is unconditional, undeserved and unearned love. It is complete love and perfect love. It is unending love. “God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
This is far from an exhaustive list describing the Heart of The Father. But these are more than enough for us to trust Him, surrender to Him, obey Him, worship Him, and love Him.
As Lent commences on Ash Wednesday, we are entering a time of introspection and prayer leading to Easter. Let us reflect on the significance of death preceding resurrection, urging readers to embrace a daily practice of surrendering self in preparation for our spiritual transformation.