God's Father Heart Towards Me

Scripture: As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. (Psalm 103:13 ESV)

Observation: God is a father who shows compassion to his children (His children being those who fear him).

Application: I am wrestling some with my own concept of God the Father. I am realizing that I tend to think of God more as a Captain or CEO, who meets with me to give me marching orders and responsibilities to carry out, rather than a father who delights to show compassion to his children. As I think about this, I think about my own fathering of my kids. Am I a father who shows compassion to his children? I think I am often a little hard on my kids—expecting them to carry out responsibility just like I feel God does to me. But if God’s father heart towards me is compassion, then how can I have that heart to my kids?

This upcoming week will test me in that I will be spending a lot more time with my kids. I want to show them the compassion of a father and simply delight in them.

Prayer: God, I know that this sort of compassion comes only from you. Help me readjust my concept of you to truly see your compassion towards me. And then help me this next week to pass that same compassion on to my kids. Help my kids to see the compassion of their heavenly father through the love of their earthly father.

My Job is to Not Discourage My Kids.

Scripture: Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. Colossians 3:21

Observation: Paul makes this command to dads. This is a man command. The order is: Don’t let your man anger come out against your kids, or they will feel like they can never please you and will quit trying. Men in particular need to heed this call, because of our propensity towards power and anger.

Application: God wants me to restrain my anger, lest I ruin my kids. I think I get angry when I feel not in control. When no one is listening to me. But instead of wading in and helping the situation, it is easier for me to send everyone to their room with a harsh word. In the short term I solve the problem. But at what long term cost? God is calling me to see that not discouraging my kids is my job as dad. Tonight, I want to share this verse with my kids at dinner, as well as the verse before it.

Prayer: God, give me patience. Help me discover how I can refrain from discouraging my kids.