Being an only child and a girl, I’ve always had a special relationship with my Daddy. As I grew into my teenage years, around my friends, he became known as “Dad.” But when I came home, he was my “Daddy.” Even today, when I go home, He is my Daddy. Some of my fondest childhood memories as a little girl would be the many times I would crawl up in Daddy’s lap.
As a child, Daddy’s lap was my “happy place.” I was safe, secure, still, and at ease. Some might say, “She’s got her Daddy wrapped around her little finger.” I was confident in my Daddy’s love and no one and no thing could persuade me to believe anything less. Why? Because he had proven his love to me. I am 35 years old and this still holds true with my Daddy’s love. And now I’m richly blessed with the gift of watching two little girls of my own sit and find rest in the warm embrace of their Daddy’s lap.
I understand that there are many in today’s world that have not experienced the comfort and security of a Daddy’s love and embrace.Here is our hope and the most beautiful thing of all.
A mother’s love as well as a father’s love are both facets of the love of our Heavenly Father.
Whatever facet of love one may be lacking or deprived of can be found in knowing and being loved by the One who created it all. Here are just a few of many scriptures that prove this beautiful truth.
Isaiah 66:13 KJV, “As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you;”
Psalm 27:10 AMP, “Although my father and my mother have abandoned me,
Yet the Lord will take me up [adopt me as His child].”
Romans 8:14-16 KJV, For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
This scripture paints a beautiful picture of the love relationship found between our Heavenly Father and a Spirit-filled believer.
“Abba Father” is one of the most significant names that describes the love relationship between God and His children. The word “Abba” is an Aramaic word that means “Father.” It was a common term that expressed affection, confidence, and trust. Abba signifies the close, intimate relationship of a father and his child, as well as the childlike trust that a young child puts in his “Daddy.”
Recently, I felt the Lord challenge me and compel me toward unknown places in the Spirit. And the desire to obey and trust Him collided with my fear of failing Him. Before I knew it, that turned into just an overwhelming sense of fear in many areas of my life.
Even though the fiery darts of the enemy had pierced my mind in an effort to cripple my walking forward, the Lord swooped in so still and so soft, yet so strong, and spoke to me during a message our pastor preached recently about the love of God. The Lord reminded me that He is love and His love is perfect. And perfect love casts out fear. And there is NO fear in love. (1 John 4:18) And to be filled with His Spirit is to be filled with His love, therefore, devoid of fear.
He reminded me that the reason I was fighting fear was because I had been driven primarily by pleasing and obeying Him. And that is right and good. But He also reminded me of how long it’s been since I crawled in His lap and just sat still in His embrace. He let me know that fear began to set in the moment I fooled myself into thinking I was too big for “Daddy’s lap.”
I remember my Daddy saying many times, “I sure hope you never get too big for Daddy’s lap.”
In a world plagued with fear, I hear our Father saying this to His children today.
He has proven His love to us through the cross. Because He loved us so much, the veil has been torn, and we have access to come boldly before His throne of grace. Isaiah 53 tells us that He bore our griefs and carried our sorrows. He was afflicted, wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, those inner struggles of the mind and heart. His love conquered all.
Take comfort in who He is. Be still in His embrace. Come to Him with the faith of a child who has complete trust and confidence of his Daddy. Allow Him to stroke your hair, dry your tears, and just hold you until you’re ready to take that next step, hand in hand with Him. For His love is patient, gentle, and kind.
This is our source of strength for conquering, for being victorious, and for being fruitful in His kingdom. For it is in this place that perfect love is revealed. As I’ve heard it said recently, this is the vertical love of the Father and His child, and it’s from here, that the love of God flows from us to others.
Fear has no place in the mind of a child of God. For when fear is overwhelming, the love of God seems diminished. And that can’t be true of His own. That is not the reality. The reality is that the fear you are feeling is not of God; therefore, it’s not yours to feel. God gives us power, love, and a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7). The true reality is that you are missed in that secret place. The place where we cry, “Abba, Father.” The place where an overwhelming sense of fear is driven out by the overwhelming reality of the love of God.
Psalm 91:1 King James Version (KJV)
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Ephesians 3:16-21 King James Version (KJV)
That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
As a child, Daddy’s lap was my “happy place.” I was safe, secure, still, and at ease. Some might say, “She’s got her Daddy wrapped around her little finger.” I was confident in my Daddy’s love and no one and no thing could persuade me to believe anything less. Why? Because he had proven his love to me. I am 35 years old and this still holds true with my Daddy’s love. And now I’m richly blessed with the gift of watching two little girls of my own sit and find rest in the warm embrace of their Daddy’s lap.
I understand that there are many in today’s world that have not experienced the comfort and security of a Daddy’s love and embrace.Here is our hope and the most beautiful thing of all.
A mother’s love as well as a father’s love are both facets of the love of our Heavenly Father.
Whatever facet of love one may be lacking or deprived of can be found in knowing and being loved by the One who created it all. Here are just a few of many scriptures that prove this beautiful truth.
Isaiah 66:13 KJV, “As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you;”
Psalm 27:10 AMP, “Although my father and my mother have abandoned me,
Yet the Lord will take me up [adopt me as His child].”
Romans 8:14-16 KJV, For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
This scripture paints a beautiful picture of the love relationship found between our Heavenly Father and a Spirit-filled believer.
“Abba Father” is one of the most significant names that describes the love relationship between God and His children. The word “Abba” is an Aramaic word that means “Father.” It was a common term that expressed affection, confidence, and trust. Abba signifies the close, intimate relationship of a father and his child, as well as the childlike trust that a young child puts in his “Daddy.”
Recently, I felt the Lord challenge me and compel me toward unknown places in the Spirit. And the desire to obey and trust Him collided with my fear of failing Him. Before I knew it, that turned into just an overwhelming sense of fear in many areas of my life.
Even though the fiery darts of the enemy had pierced my mind in an effort to cripple my walking forward, the Lord swooped in so still and so soft, yet so strong, and spoke to me during a message our pastor preached recently about the love of God. The Lord reminded me that He is love and His love is perfect. And perfect love casts out fear. And there is NO fear in love. (1 John 4:18) And to be filled with His Spirit is to be filled with His love, therefore, devoid of fear.
He reminded me that the reason I was fighting fear was because I had been driven primarily by pleasing and obeying Him. And that is right and good. But He also reminded me of how long it’s been since I crawled in His lap and just sat still in His embrace. He let me know that fear began to set in the moment I fooled myself into thinking I was too big for “Daddy’s lap.”
I remember my Daddy saying many times, “I sure hope you never get too big for Daddy’s lap.”
In a world plagued with fear, I hear our Father saying this to His children today.
He has proven His love to us through the cross. Because He loved us so much, the veil has been torn, and we have access to come boldly before His throne of grace. Isaiah 53 tells us that He bore our griefs and carried our sorrows. He was afflicted, wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, those inner struggles of the mind and heart. His love conquered all.
Take comfort in who He is. Be still in His embrace. Come to Him with the faith of a child who has complete trust and confidence of his Daddy. Allow Him to stroke your hair, dry your tears, and just hold you until you’re ready to take that next step, hand in hand with Him. For His love is patient, gentle, and kind.
This is our source of strength for conquering, for being victorious, and for being fruitful in His kingdom. For it is in this place that perfect love is revealed. As I’ve heard it said recently, this is the vertical love of the Father and His child, and it’s from here, that the love of God flows from us to others.
Fear has no place in the mind of a child of God. For when fear is overwhelming, the love of God seems diminished. And that can’t be true of His own. That is not the reality. The reality is that the fear you are feeling is not of God; therefore, it’s not yours to feel. God gives us power, love, and a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7). The true reality is that you are missed in that secret place. The place where we cry, “Abba, Father.” The place where an overwhelming sense of fear is driven out by the overwhelming reality of the love of God.
Psalm 91:1 King James Version (KJV)
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Ephesians 3:16-21 King James Version (KJV)
That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Jessica Bridges is a recent transplant to Livingway Pentecostal Church in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Upon her arrival, Jessica extended her hands to service. She has given Bible studies to young adults, partnered in a women’s small group, and extended prayerful encouragement to ladies churchwide. She continues to obediently follow "wherever God may lead," even when the territory is down the new path of sharing her heart through writing. When Jessica is not volunteering her time to ministry, she is caring for her husband, Chris, and her beautiful little girls, Maya and Sara.
RSS Feed
