God our Father

 God Our Father

A Reflection on Matthew 6:9, Romans 8:15, and 1 John 3:1

God our Father—not a distant, cold, commanding voice,

But the One who makes the broken heart rejoice.

Abba, Father—tender, near,

The One who casts out every fear.

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.” (Matthew 6:9)

Father—not a judge who waits to strike,

But the Shepherd who leads us, the love we cannot lose.

He runs to meet the prodigal, He lifts the fallen one.

His mercy never fails us; His will is always done.

He knows our weakness, He hears our cry.

He sees the tear that falls from a weary eye.

He does not turn away in shame,

But calls us gently by our name.

For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15)

God our Father—provider of daily bread,

Healer of the wounds inside our head.

He clothes the lilies, feeds the birds,

And holds us in His faithful words.

So we come to You—not with trembling, but with trust.

You are the Father of the merciful, the kind, the just.

In times of joy and times of pain,

We rest in You, and we remain.

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! (1 John 3:1)

Amen.