The Love of the Father

Johnathan Osteen @ Lakewood Church 

There's many ways to know God. Different people have different ideas of who God is. Through Jesus we received a new way to see God.

You should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, help us to honor your name.

Matthew 6:9 CEV

We can't let who our earthly father wasn't distort who our Godly father is.

We're all His favorite since he's omnipresent and omnipotent.

Some people never see God in this way because they are always criticizing themselves.

Then the Lord asked, "What do you think of my servant Job? No one on earth is like him—he is a truly good person, who respects me and refuses to do evil."

Job 1:8 CEV

Don't let what other people or even you criticize change what you know God thinks about you. 

We have permission to like who we are.

Just as parents are kind to their children, the Lord is kind to all who worship him,

Psalms 103:13 CEV

When we have the right image of God, can move with confidence.

You don't need to through a third party to talk to God. Know nuance of my life is too small...

God made the universe and the atom

... there's no detail to small.

"The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They're full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don't fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this: Our Father in heaven, Reveal who you are. Set the world right; Do what's best— as above, so below. Keep us alive with three square meals. Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil. You're in charge! You can do anything you want! You're ablaze in beauty! Yes. Yes. Yes.

Matthew 6:7‭-‬13 MSG

Then a voice from heaven said, "This is my own dear Son, and I am pleased with him."

Matthew 3:17 CEV

At this point Jesus hadnt performed any miracles because he's well pleased with me just as I am. He's already approved me and called me a masterpiece.

There's nothing I can do to make God love me any more or any less.

I have loved you, just as my Father has loved me. So remain faithful to my love for you.

John 15:9 CEV

Sometimes we live life trying to pay God back but he took the penalty on our behalf. The first time you ask for forgiveness, God's mercy covered it.

So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved grace, and we will find help.

Hebrews 4:16 CEV

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:16 NKJV

You can't go boldly to the thrown if you think that the person sitting there is waiting to punish you. 

If a child is climbing a tree and gets stuck the father won't fuss at him,  he'll help him out of the tree... he won't leave his child hanging 

Luke 15

A child is still a child no matter how the child feels or what the child has done the relationship doesn't  because it's in the blood.

"And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.

Luke 15:20 NKJV

"But the father wasn't listening. He was calling to the servants, 'Quick. Bring a clean set of clothes and dress him. Put the family ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Then get a grain-fed heifer and roast it. We're going to feast! We're going to have a wonderful time! My son is here—given up for dead and now alive! Given up for lost and now found!' And they began to have a wonderful time.

Luke 15:22‭-‬24 MSG

-Jeanicia R. Elder at Lakewood Church