Discover your heavenly Father’s love for you

When you blow it – I mean, when you really mess up big time – do you hide from God? Sometimes I do.

What if, instead of feeling like a failure and slinking away in shame when we give into temptation, we looked at ourselves the way God looks at us: as His much-loved child?

Whenever I read Romans 8, I see more clearly the type of relationship God wants to have with us. Each time I finish the chapter, I understand a little bit more about why He paid such a high price to secure this kind of relationship with us.

I always smile at verse 15: “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’” (Romans 8:15 ESV).

If we’ve recognized Jesus’ death on the cross as payment for our sins, we can call God (with all the excitement the exclamation points imply), “Abba! Father!”

During June, the month in which we celebrate fathers, let’s pursue such a close relationship with our heavenly Father that we cry (whether in a loud exclamation or quiet whispers), “Abba, Father,” in the same manner we would say “Daddy!”

As a dad, you love your children no matter what they do or don’t do. How much more does this apply to our relationship with our heavenly Father? Nothing can – or ever will – keep us from drawing near to our merciful Father. His love for us doesn’t waver, regardless of our behavior.

Isn’t this amazing? Isn’t this exactly what we need?

Let’s not minimize God’s love and grace. Rather, let’s honor our relationship with Him by allowing our Redeemer to conform us to His image so we don’t fall as easily into sin. Let’s pray for God to help us see our choices the way He sees them.

Are you able to go to God when you need Him most, when you’ve fallen into sin or made (another!) bad choice? If not, for the next few weeks, get to know God as your compassionate Father. As your loving Daddy. Perhaps you can plan to spend extra time reading His Word and talking to Him.

How would your opinion of yourself change if you accepted, as fact, that you are, unreservedly, God’s beloved child? How would it change your life?

How would it change your relationship with Almighty God, your heavenly Father?

Sheryl H. Boldt, a Franklin County resident, is the author of the blog, www.TodayCanBeDifferent.net. Connect with her at SherylHBoldt@gmail.com.