Your Heavenly Father Loves You!
Did you know that your heavenly Father loves you? Did you know that He has your best interests at heart?
As Jesus was preparing His disciples for His death, He spoke to them about their relationship with their heavenly Father. He was telling them that once He had fulfilled His mission to die for their sins and rise from the dead, they could have full access to the Father. He said that they did not need to pray to Jesus but that they could go directly to the Father in Jesus’ name because “the Father Himself loves you.”
“… for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God. (John 16:27, NKJV)
Yes, it’s personal! Father God loves YOU! He sent His Son to die for you. When you receive His gift of salvation, you have access to your Father. You are part of His household and partakers of all that He has.
Remember the story of the Prodigal Son. He thought life would be better without his father, so he took the inheritance and left. He spent all he had on riotous living, and when all was gone, the Bible says he came to himself.
“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! ‘I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, “and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’ (Luke 15:17-19, NKJV)
Many people need to come to this place. They need to come to themselves. They need to realize that this world and all it has to offer is useless without their Father. They need to come to themselves and return to the Father’s house.
The Prodigal did not come back to his father to gain riches or recoup his losses. In fact, he was willing to live in the bunkhouse with the servants. He was disillusioned with the world and had experienced the futility of a life without his father.
The Prodigal Son had true repentance in his heart for how he had dishonored his father. He made a decision from the heart to return.
The father, however, had no thought of putting him in the servant’s quarters. He returned him to his full inheritance and gave him the best robe, shoes for his feet, and a signet ring which gave him full authority as a part of the family. He then celebrated his son’s return with a huge feast.
Your heavenly Father loves you! He wants you to live in His presence and enjoy the benefits of the family today! He wants to lavish His love upon you. He wants to answer your prayers. You can come to Him directly, in Jesus’ name.
You may feel like a failure, and the evidence may prove that you are right, but nonetheless, the Father loves you. He loves you so much that He sent His Son to pay the penalty for your sins on the cross. Jesus died to bring you to the Father. Through Jesus’ sacrifice, you can obtain total forgiveness, restoration, and a new beginning in the family of God.
“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:17, NKJV)
God is for you and not against you. He wants you to live in His family and enjoy life, peace, and victory.
When you receive the Father’s gift of salvation and receive Jesus as Lord of your life, He sends His Holy Spirit into your heart crying “Abba Father.” Then you can begin to know God as your Father, and understand who you are as a child of God.
The devil has done all he can to steal our identity and rob us of our inheritance. As a result, many are living in confusion and emptiness, but when we return to our Father we can begin to know who we really are and to build our life on a strong foundation.
Your Father is waiting for you to return to Him so that He can lavish on you all that He has. Take time to talk to your Father and ponder what it means to be His child. Let Him bathe you in His love and goodness.
If you would like to receive the Father’s free gift of salvation, you can pray a prayer like this:
Dear Father, thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, to teach me about You and to die as a substitute for me. I believe Jesus died for me and that you raised Jesus from the dead. I turn from sin and receive Jesus as Lord of my life. Thank you for forgiving me and making me a part of your family. I believe that you love me. You are my Father, and I am your child, in Jesus’ name. Amen.