⁴ Sing praises to God and to his name!
Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds.
His name is the Lord—
rejoice in his presence!

⁵ Father to the fatherless, defender of widows—
this is God, whose dwelling is holy.

 Psalm 68:4-5

Dear God, I know some children who feel fatherless. I know some children for whom Father’s Day is painful (adult children and minor children alike). I know some father’s who ignore Father’s Day altogether. As humans we experience a lot of wounds over the course of our lives. Some of them we cause ourselves, some of them are caused by others, and some of them are just life happening to us.

The reality that can often be hard to see is that you are our father above all other fathers. And what we receive from you is love. Yes, to some extent there can be provision, but that comes as it fits your will. But the real thing we experience from you is that love that is indescribable if we will just stop and receive it through laying down our lives and taking up your yoke and cross.

As I was typing this the children’s song “I’ve Got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy Down in my Heart” came to mind.

I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart (where)
Down in my heart (where)
Down in my heart
I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart (where)
Down in my heart to stay
 

And I’m so happy, so very happy
I have the love of Jesus in my heart
Down in my heart
And I’m so happy, so very happy
I have the love of Jesus in my heart 

I’ve got the peace that passes understanding
Down in my heart (where)… 

And if the Devil doesn’t like it he can sit on a tack (Ouch!)…

Father, happy Father’s Day. For everyone out there that cannot stand this day for one reason or another, I pray that you will guide them. Love them. Help them to feel your presence and submit to the freedom that is available to them through letting go. Heal the brokenhearted. Tangibly love those who feel unloved. Your involvement in our lives as our father might not always look like we want it to look, but I know you are there. I worship you for that.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen