There is definitely no pat answer for how to better receive the love of God. Meditation on Scripture and consistent prayer are non-negotiables for this. Praying through Psalms like 103 and 23 and reminding ourselves of the kind of protective, fatherly love that God has for us is critical. We pray through the Lord’s Prayer and realize that we are instructed to call God “Our Father.” Lord willing, God will also lead other godly men into your life to act as surrogate fathers. These earthly substitutes can often fill gaps that are gaping holes left by negligent or deceased earthly fathers. My life in church has seen a parade of such men come and go and they have been invaluable to my formation.

It is a work of God’s Spirit to receive his life. Grace must soften hearts long hardened by old resentments, or even bitterness at God for ‘taking our fathers.’ God’s purposes are mysterious and long-reaching, but they are also wise and loving. This doesn’t mean we can point to obvious ‘benefits’ for the loss of a parent, but it means that his promise to work all things for our good will prove true in the end (Rom. 8:28).

You can be fully encouraged, however, that in the gospel you are accepted. Justification means imputed righteousness and the forgiveness of our sins, but it also means that we are accepted in a way that can never be lost or damaged or threatened or tainted. It is unwavering and eternal. It is just one more way of how God’s ways are beyond our ways.

Now, if only I could live in the good of such truths! Yet, they are true and I must keep going back to them.

Take care, brother,

Daniel

I came across your article on Knowing God as our Father.

I am a 46 year old man who lives in South Africa. I grew up in a home where my father never told me that he loved me. I also never felt that I was good enough for him. He died when I was 16.

When I was 17, I accepted Jesus as my Saviour and have lived as a born-again Christian ever since, however, I have always found mysef looking to people for approval and have struggled to really see God as my Heavenly Father or to even accept His unconditional love. People have let me down and I have suffered from depression and struggle to form good solid friendships as I have a fear of being let down again.

I would really appreciate you praying for me about this and also would appreciate you giving me any pointers on how to break this thing in my life.

God Bless!

Trevor

Great comment. Obviously, the title was purely an attention-grabber. I’m also assuming that not all movies are rated-R for the same reason. Further, some of us watch movies almost entirely with remote controls at the ready. Even PG-13s surprise you. Black-and-whites are typically fine, but sometimes the comments are inappropriate for kids or tempting despite the fact everyone is far more clothed than in a contemporary movie. Disney is no automatic winner either if you’re careful about what your kids watch.

The point is that a rating perhaps puts you in the right ballpark when it comes to what’s appropriate for your convictions, but only in the ballpark.

I think your points about a general lack of confidence in ourselves, and a desire to “get away with” with our unbelieving neighbors and friends do, are great ones to make. They point at the attitude of heart we want to have even if we are still left deciding whether to watch this particular movie or not.

Thanks!

Thank you Hannah for sharing this with us, and thank you Daniel for posting this for us to read!

Sarah Bosse

http://jlue.wordpress.com/2009/03/21/life-lessons/

“Read this–Christ compels you.”

Or if you stop reading, He compelled you to do that, too.