Da! Dada! Daddy! Every baby’s first words. Both parents and grandparents wait for it, hoping to be first, but God in His providence puts daddies first. When momma tells him that baby can say it, there’s always disbelief, but the first time those precious sounds fall on his ears, his chest puffs and a smile lights his face if he doesn’t outright laugh from the sheer joy of it. It’s a connection daddies need. It’s one we all need with our Father.
“And so that we would know that we are his true children, God released the Spirit of Sonship into our hearts—moving us to cry out intimately, “My Father! My true Father!””
Galatians 4:6 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/gal.4.6.TPT
“He has made everything beautiful and appropriate in its time.
He has also planted eternity [a sense of divine purpose] in the human heart [a mysterious longing which nothing under the sun can satisfy, except God]—yet man cannot find out (comprehend, grasp) what God has done (His overall plan) from the beginning to the end.
I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good as long as they live; and also that every man should eat and drink and see and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God.
I know that whatever God does, it endures forever; nothing can be added to it nor can anything be taken from it, for God does it so that men will fear and worship Him [with awe-filled reverence, knowing that He is God].”
Ecclesiastes 3:11-14 AMP
https://bible.com/bible/1588/ecc.3.11-12.AMP
Traditionally, through our daddies, we get our family identity. Mommy takes daddy’s name when they wed and the children born from their union share the family name. In many cultures still as in Bible times, children are known as the son or daughter of their father. Whether intentional or not, this reflects God’s plan.
““Haven’t you read,” Jesus replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?
So they are no longer two, but one flesh.
Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.””
Matthew 19:4-6 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/mat.19.4-6.NIV
“This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.”
Ephesians 5:32 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/eph.5.32.NIV
“But those who embraced him and took hold of his name he gave authority to become the children of God!
He was not born by the joining of human parents or from natural means, or by a man’s desire, but he was born of God.”
John 1:12-13 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/jhn.1.12-13.TPT
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts higher than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:8-9 AMP
https://bible.com/bible/1588/isa.55.8-9.AMP
“But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.
God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.
And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”
Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child.
And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.”
Galatians 4:4-7 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/gal.4.6-7.NLT
“Beloved friends, what should be our proper response to God’s marvelous mercies?
To surrender yourselves to God to be his sacred, living sacrifices.
And live in holiness, experiencing all that delights his heart. For this becomes your genuine expression of worship.
Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think.
This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes.”
Romans 12:1-2 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/rom.12.1-2.TPT
“So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
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!”
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,”
Romans 8:12-16 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.8.12-16.ESV
“So then, beloved ones, the flesh has no claims on us at all, and we have no further obligation to live in obedience to it.
For when you live controlled by the flesh, you are about to die.
But if the life of the Spirit puts to death the corrupt ways of the flesh, we then taste his abundant life.
The mature children of God are those who are moved by the impulses of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 8:12-21 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/rom.8.12-21.TPT
“So don’t you see that we don’t owe this old do-it-yourself life one red cent.
There’s nothing in it for us, nothing at all.
The best thing to do is give it a decent burial and get on with your new life.
God’s Spirit beckons.
There are things to do and places to go!
This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life.
It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?”
God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are.
We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children.
And we know we are going to get what’s coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance!
We go through exactly what Christ goes through.
If we go through the hard times with him, then we’re certainly going to go through the good times with him!”
Romans 8:12-17 MSG
https://bible.com/bible/97/rom.8.12-17.MSG
“That’s why I don’t think there’s any comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times.
The created world itself can hardly wait for what’s coming next.
Everything in creation is being more or less held back.
God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead.
Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens.”
Romans 8:18-21 MSG
https://bible.com/bible/97/rom.8.18-21.MSG
In the meantime…
“Pray then like this:
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
Matthew 6:9-10, 12-13 ESV
A Fitting Reply 