Restless (Part II) – The Remedy

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

“For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life,
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.”

                “Saved alone.”

These two words pierced Horatio Spafford’s soul as he sat on his desk in Chicago, after receiving the infamous telegram from his wife in 1873. She and their four daughters were sailing to Europe, ahead of Horatio, who had been deterred by business issues following the great Chicago fire of 1871. Their ship sank in the middle of the Atlantic and all four of Spafford’s daughters died. Shortly afterwards, Horatio travelled to meet his grieving wife. History has it that, when his ship was sailing above the very spot where his daughters’ ship had sunk, Horatio went back to his cabin and wrote the words to one of the most moving Hymns ever written: “It is well with my soul.” Had this been the only tragedy in Horatio’s life, I may have looked a bit further for inspiration for this message. But his long-lasting grief was beyond imagination to me: he lost his only son in 1871; lost much of his business in the Great Fire in the same year; lost his four daughters in one day. He lived to have three more children, one of whom (a son) died in infancy. If there was a soul in modern history who knew the peace that surpasses all understanding of Philippians 4, that person is Horatio Spafford. He found, as Paul did, the peace that does not rely on possessions, people or circumstances.

In the first part of this devotional, we saw that there are very good reasons for which God’s children should never stress over their problems. Most of the times we cannot control them, anyway. In the second part of verse 4, Paul gives us the recipe to find the peace that surpasses all understanding. He said “but”, in other words, “instead of” worrying and being anxious, “in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let you requests be made known to God.” What sounds like a simplistic way of approaching our problems and dilemmas in life, is a tested and proven solution to bring rest to a troubled spirit. There is no magic in prayer. There is Power - divine, endless power.

Curare et Orare

Bengel, a Lutheran priest who lived in the 17^th Century made the following analogy regarding anxiety and prayer: “Anxiety and Prayer (Curare et Orare) are more opposed to each other than fire and water.”

The paradox between the two concepts lies in the fact that prayer, when rendered with faith and trust, should be the very instrument to drive away all notions of care and stress from our minds. If we think of it as the “connection” with God, whose love, power and mercy are infinite and who promises to cause all things to work for our good, we would certainly carry out lives with less stress and more prayer. The idea in verse 6 is that we should, in everything; in each emergency, little or great, as it arises,  pray. The two words herein rendered “prayer” and “supplication”, occur together again in Ephesians 6:18 and 1 Timothy 2:1:

“With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints”

“I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men,”

The first word “prayer” refers to the general conversation of our souls with God; “supplications” consist of the more specific requests for ourselves and others. Intercessory prayer is one of the Christian’s duty; we must pray in order to have a relationship with the Father; we cannot separate the two. Show me a person who does not pray and I will show you someone who cannot claim God’s peace and direction for his/her life. Although God speaks to His people in different ways, I do believe it is when we pray that we hear Him more intimately. It is distracting to me to think that a child of God would seek His face in prayer only in times of desperate need. How can we run to the Father in emergencies, if we don’t spend time to know Him through prayer? How can we boldly ask Him for our needs and desires, if we do not come back to thank Him every day for His blessings?   

Peace In the Lion’s Den

The first time I saw the above picture of Daniel in the Lion’s den was at our pastor’s office. I remember the emotions that ran through my spirit as I watched the faces of the lions… reverent, scared, controlled wild animals, in total submission to the Power who created them. And then I looked at Daniel, his face looking upwards, arms crossed behind his back in peaceful realization that Yahweh (the Hebrew name of God  meaning “the One who Brings  Into Existence Whatever Exists)”, the very One who had called him to live, knew when he was or was not to die. I fell in love with the piece so much that we now have a framed copy in our home.

Daniel had formed a habit of prayer. As a matter of fact, the Bible says that even when King Darius signed the document that prohibited all men to pray to “any god besides him,”  the first thing Daniel did was to go to his house, kneel down and pray, as he had done every day. As the verdict from the king came and Daniel was thrown into the Lion’s Den, he knew that, because he was obedient, he could trust Yahweh to protect him. The peace that he found as he brought his petitions to God in prayer followed him to the Lion’s Den.  The same peace will follow you as you face your lions and giants in life’s valleys and battles.

What is God’s Peace?

It is the Peace that He Himself possesses. It is the peace that Jesus promised His disciples: “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” (John 14:27 – NASB)

Because it is divine peace, it transcends our circumstances. It’s not simply freedom from troubles, but a deeply-set harmony with the One who is the Source of true peace. That is why Paul calls this the “peace that surpasses all (human) understanding.”It is the peace that only those who are reconciled with God can possess, because “He Himself is our Peace” (Ephesians 2:14)

It is child-like peace - because it flows from a solid trust that the Father will take care of His children. It is the peace that comes from the same blessed assurance which a little child has, that daddy will be there for them when they need him; or that daddy can do just about anything: “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think.” Ephesians 3:20 – NASB.

It is an armed Guard - It is very interesting that Paul uses the term “guard” when it comes to the peace of God in our hearts. To guard is a warrior’s duty and war and peace are also as opposites as fire and water. However, God herein promises that as we bring all our cares to Him by prayer and supplication, thanking Him for what He will surely do, He shall then place His peace in the entrance of our hearts and minds as a guard against the enemy. This peace will guard our hearts and our thoughts as a strong warrior, so that no disturbing thoughts shall enter our minds. That is how effectively anxiety can be destroyed in the heart of those who seek repose in God through prayer and thanksgiving.

The next time anxiety and worry try to rob your peace, I urge you will cry out to God in prayer, supplication and with thanksgiving, having the assurance that He will send the great Guard, His Peace, to keep your heart and mind centered in His truth. As you reach out to God in prayer, He will remind you of who you are – His beloved child! And although He may allow the strongest of storms to come your way, remember: He is holding you, in the hollow of His hand and shall never, ever let you go.

Dear Lord, thank you for Your Peace. Remind me to reach out to you in times of distress; remind me of promises You have given me in Your Word and remind me of whom I am in Christ – Your child, loved and cherished by You. I trust You will give me the strength to withstand the trials You allow in my life, and I thank you for each trial that You have helped me overcome. I pray You send me Your peace – unfathomable, perfect Peace.  In Jesus’ precious Name, Amen!

Restless - Part I

Passage: Philippians 4:6-7

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Stocks Fall on Weak Economic Data  ~  Flash-mob Violence spreads in several American cities  ~  Social-media-fueled riots worries London residents  ~  Double-digit Unemployment in 8 States.

If you spend any time watching or reading the news these days, you may want to keep a paper bag beside you in case you start hyper ventilating. Violence is rampant everywhere you look. There seems to be very little hope of imminent recovery for our economy; our political system is corrupt and the greatest nation on earth is quickly losing its status as an unbeatable super power. Our hopes, our security, our pride… they are quickly falling at our feet, one day at a time. The foundation of America, the Great, has been shaken.

What about in your small world? I can sit here and think about so many people who are unemployed, some who are fighting cancer and others who have lost dear family members. I remember this sweet, godly mother, whose 8 year old son is fighting what seems like a losing battle against a deadly form of cancer. There are enough reasons in the world and even in our close midst to lose hope and panic.

As I write these lines, right before my eyes is a picture of our two precious girls, happily holding each other. Their eyes are full of reassurance and joyful peace. They don’t worry, for they know that their mom and dad will provide. They don’t fret, because they trust that when they ask us for something and if we are able to provide it, as long as it is something that will be good for them, they should get it. No anxiety, no fretting, no begging, no paper bags. They just know that we are there for them. They know that when the school bell rings, mom will be there. They know that when they get home, they will be able to eat. They know that tomorrow will be the same. For they trust us. They know we love them and will never forsake them. They don’t suffer from what Paul called in Philippians 4:6 – “distracting care”.

The main Greek word “merimna” translated in most Bibles as “anxious” or “careful” is defined as “dividing or distracting the mind; distracting care, trouble.” ¹

Paul was not suggesting that Christians should be careless. A certain measure of concerned thoughts is necessary to efficiently perform our daily tasks and accomplish our goals. Christianity never teaches about carelessness, in fact it reinforces the need to work diligently and do one’s part in the kingdom: “if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.” 1 Thessalonians 3:10-b - NKJ.  We cannot help having cares, such as how we will provide for our families, or how to take care of our health and protect our own.  However, although we cannot help having cares in life, we are not to allow them to harass us as though we had to bear them ourselves. What Paul actually meant is that we are not to worry or be anxious about the result of our work. We know the tasks that need to be accomplished and we should be concerned to do them well; however we must grasp the concept that the result of our work and diligence are completely in God’s hands.

You’re Still the Same Height, Only Grayer.

“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?” Matthew 6:26-27 – emphasis added.

Why is it a complete waste of time and energy to let our problems consume our thinking?

1)       Because God is still sitting on His throne!

“For the kingdom is the LORD’S  and He rules over the nations.” Psalm 22:28 (NASB)

Let me tell you – learning to grasp this truth may be the exact reason why we face some valleys. I don’t claim that to be true in every situation, but in my own life, God has repeatedly used circumstances that were seemingly out of control and even hopeless to show me that I had control issues and needed to let Him be God.

I left my parents’ house at 17 to go to college and lived by myself for 13 years until getting married. Although my parents helped as much as they could, their means were limited. From a very early age, I learned to work for things I wanted. I was the mover and shaker of my own life (or so I thought!) Therefore, as a new Christian, letting God take over all areas of my life was an issue. Through the valleys and by taking the steering wheel out of my hands countless times, God has shown me to wait on His timing and fully trust Him. So today, as soon as I recover from the normal first impact of bad news (which include, but are not limited to: crying, being angry, trying to figure out what to do – yes, just in case you wondered – I too have my moments), this is the sentence I repeat out loud, over and over again: “He is still on His Throne.” Meditating upon this truth puts my mind back into the place of restful trust that He has allowed the problem I am facing for a reason. And although I may not “feel it”, I KNOW, it is for my good.

2)     Because our anxiety will not prevent any anticipated evil!

“Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy.”  ~Leo Buscaglia

If you are a child of God, your life’s script has already been written. The Lord knows exactly what He wants you to become and He will allow anything to happen, good and bad, as long as they will help to shape you into the person He has designed you to be. Worrying about what could happen will only distract you from learning the lessons He is sending your way. Your responses should be – “what are you trying to teach me, Father?” and “how should I respond to this, Lord?” Because if you are in the center of God’s will for your life, He is always in the process of teaching you something. Furthermore, worrying about what is going on will not stop any trials from coming your way. It may, however, prevent you from listening to His voice, as you focus on what “you” should do to improve the situation. We can’t change our circumstances, much less when they are God-ordained. However, you can fight them so hard that God will have no alternative but to keep you in the trial for longer, until you learn to rest in Him.

3)     Because it is harmful to your health!

“ Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad.” Proverbs 12:25 NKJ

Hi, my name is Patricia and I have not had a panic attack in fifteen years.

What sounds like a line from an AAA meeting is the true story of my life. I had the first panic attack at 23. For almost four years, doctors tried different medications to help me. I was in the ER five times; each time, firmly believing that I was dying. Panic attacks are terrible. It was one of the hardest, darkest valleys of my life.

The doctors explained to me that I could not control the attacks. According to them, they happened due to a drop of serotonin levels in my brain and therefore they were chemically induced. It is true that I was indeed working long hours, sleeping little and therefore my body was crying out for help. But fifteen years later, I have to confess that there was a deeper underlying issue – self-reliance. When I started losing control of situations in my life, I started worrying. When worry set in, I lost control. Slowly, anxiety and worry started to destroy everything in their path. Was it not for God’s mercy and grace, they would have destroyed me.

Truth being told, men hardly die of hard work, but often due to consequences of an anxious mind. Doctors are prescribing anti-anxiety and anti-depression medications easier than ever these days. Heart attacks are on top of the list as leading cause of death in the modern world. These growing statistics unfortunately include a whole lot of God’s people. However, as children of the Omnipotent God, we really have no excuse to be another number in the long list of people becoming sick due to anxiety. We are children of the Great Physician and the very Creator of the master plan of our lives. He has a Book of remedies and a proven record of effectively healing and leading all who come to Him for guidance. Ask me. I know it.

Exposing our Faith

Relentless worrying should be taken as a warning sign about the true state of our trust and faith in God. For it is when tragedy strikes and our lives are shaken that we really catch a glimpse of how much our hearts follow our minds in our faith journey. Let me explain. It is not difficult to praise God and quote Bible verse after Bible verse when life is good and the skies are blue. It is easy to say “you shouldn’t worry,” to someone when your life is going well. It is when clouds start crawling in the horizon, or when you receive news that change your life and pulls the rug from under your feet; it is then, my friend, if you are honest with yourself, that you have the awesome opportunity to know whether you truly have unshaken faith. For if we worry excessively or for a long time, we must realize that we may not trust God as we may think we do. For if we did - oh, if we only trusted God at His Word, when troubles came our ways, we would mourn and hurt for a while (for that will always be our first natural response for as long as we live in these bodies); however our spirits would quickly tell us to settle down. We would live a life of unshaken faith, waiting on the next chapter of deliverance to come forth. Patiently, expectantly waiting. For if we fully surrender and completely trust, our nights should be as peaceful as a young child’s. If we fully trust, each time our minds wake us up with the worries of things beyond our control, we shall only be awake long to utter a prayer, recognizing our trust in the Father for the outcome of the situation, and of thanks for the things He will surely do. And then we shall fall fast asleep. The peaceful sleep of the just. The rest of those who made God their Rock, their Shadow, their Hiding Place.

In the second part of this devotional, we will study the things that that God teaches us as we learn to take our eyes off circumstances and into the Solid Rock that is never shaken. But for today, I trust this material will give you enough to think and pray about. How do you react to disappointing circumstances? What is your response, after the dust settles down and the first shock of pain subsides?  Do you run to God or from Him? Do you let your emotions run your life or do you get a hold of them and invite God’s truth to reign in your mind? Your honest answers to these questions may be the key to a life of peace and unshaken faith.

Dear Father, I praise you for who You are – a Father who is willing to guide and help me live a victorious life, always soaring above my circumstances. I praise You that I can trust that “all things work together for my good” and therefore I can have faith that you are using the valleys to shape me into whom You designed me to be. I pray that you will give me discernment, understanding and wisdom to always realize that the way I react to trials is directly connected to the size of my faith. I pray that You will teach me to look up to You, not at the problems and disappointments that I face. I love You and trust You with my future.  In Jesus’ matchless Name I pray, Amen.

¹ A Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek New Testment, E.W. Bullinger, Kregel Academic, 1999

I Call Him Daddy

Passage: Psalm 9

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%209&version=NLT

Key Verse:

“And those who know Your name will put their trust in You,  for You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.” Psalm 9:10 (NASB)

                The front door opens and I hear four little feet running to it. “Daaaaaaadyyyy!” I smile as I hear the sounds of kisses and giggles. I turn around and my heart takes a leap. The three people I love most on earth are all smiles. It does not matter how hard the day was anymore. Problems with friends at school? Difficult homework? In a moment, they just know it - all is fine, for daddy is home.

                I reflect back on my childhood and how I was absolutely crazy about my daddy (I still am). He was Super-Man! He knew it all. He could do anything. He was also the strongest, smartest, richest and most handsome man alive.  If you were blessed by being raised by a loving dad, you know what I am talking about. If you asked us, daddy’s girls, we would not have any problem believing that our dads did hang the moon. Because we really believed they could.

                The word “Abba” as a reference to God is an Aramaic word which literally means “daddy” or “papa”. Jesus cried out to His Daddy in the garden of Gethsemane, at a time of great distress, when He was about to give Himself as a ransom for mankind’s sins (Matt 14:36). The apostle Paul also used the expression “Abba, Father,”   when referring to the fact that we were adopted by God when we accepted Christ as our Savior, and therefore we may boldly claim our heritage as children of the Mighty God of Israel: “So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, ‘Abba, Father.’ ” (Romans 8:15 – NLT)

                Many of us have different names which people call us by. If someone calls me “Mrs. Holbrook”, unless they are 13 years old or under, the verdict is simple – they just don’t know me. On the other hand, different nicknames and loving abbreviations are normally a demonstration of how close someone is to me. I have this habit for as long as I remember: if you are part of my family or a close friend, I normally have a nickname for you. It’s usually one which most people you know don’t call you by. When someone changes from an acquaintance to a friend, most likely, they will receive a special name. It’s not something planned, it just happens and I know exactly why. The more I get to know someone, the more I love them, the more intimate we become. You are not just someone that I see and wave to as you pass by. You become special to me and so I give you a special name. You know me better than many people; I call you friend.

                Intimate and true relationships are hard to find. There is a reason for that - it takes time to develop them. You cannot expect to be close to someone unless you spend time with them, unselfishly giving yourself to them; unless you are willing to put your own interests aside for their sake.  True friends pray for you. True friends forgive. True friends admonish you when you are heading for disaster. True friends rejoice with your accomplishments and love to be with you. True and intimate earthly friendship… in many aspects mirrors the relationship we should have with our Heavenly Father. We should know Him - as a child that covers her father’s face with kisses as she sits on his lap, uninvited, because she knows him. We should know Him – as my husband and I know each other. We can look at each other across a room full of people and know what the other one is thinking.  We trust each other because we know each other. Likewise, the more intimately we know God, the more we learn to trust Him.

What do you call God?

                The way you call God may reveal just how intimate you are with Him (or not).

If you call Him “the Man upstairs”, chances are, you don’t know Him very well. If you are quick to carelessly use His name in every other sentence, chances are, you don’t reverence Him, and therefore you don’t know Him. The more you know God, the more you love Him; therefore the more reverent, yet intimate you become with Him.

“And they who know Your name [who have experience and acquaintance with Your mercy] will lean on and confidently put their trust in You” v.9-a (Amplified Bible)

                According to the Eerdmans Bible dictionary, the Hebrew word for “know” (yada) in the original text means: to understand, to grasp or ascertain; especially to be familiar or acquainted with a person or thing.

                Psalm 9 is a song of praise – a call to worship from David. In this Psalm he recalls how God has empowered him to triumph over the Philistines and other neighboring nations that fought against his throne (2 Sa. 5:8.) This is not a first-timer, new believer song of praise. It’s the song from a heart that searched God and found Him. It’s the song of praise of one who has tested and proved God the Deliverer, Redeemer and Strong Tower, a Present Help in times of trouble.

You Too Can Call Him Daddy

                What does a good father represent? He is, indeed, his children’s safe harbor. They run to him when trouble strikes because they know they can depend on him. A good daddy can be trusted.

I love the second part of verse 10. It gives hope to those who are yet to find true, intimate relationship with God:

“For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.” (V.10-b – NASB)

                David reminds us that God’s grace and presence is extended to all who seek Him. Thanks to the new covenant established by Jesus on the cross, all who have trusted Him as their Savior can seek God and find Him in the most intimate way. But the key to this verse is the verb “seek.” You see, God is ever waiting for His children to come close to Him. He has never moved, or ever will. Like the prodigal son's father, Abba is waiting for each one of His children to come back home as they wander away and into a life of rebellion or little communion with Him.

A.D.D. Worship

                I can well relate to King David. He speaks as a man who has lived away from God's presence for a season  and with the passion of one who knows the difference. Yep, I know it too well.

                About seven years ago, as I was home with a small child, I became a master in what I call “A.D.D. worship.” I would start praying and, as my prayers went up, a thought would cross my mind and I would quickly move my attention from God to whatever was on my mind. I could sense that my prayers would go up the room, hit the ceiling and bounce back down. Reading God’s Word was not different. I would start reading something and would get lost in my thoughts and preoccupations for the day. Quickly and steadily, my prayer life became dull and God became this distant Creator, whom I reverenced and respected, but whom I could not, in all honesty, relate to as a Father.  Can you empathize? I believe that all Christians go through a phase such as this at some point in time. We allow the cares of this world to distract us. Or, worse yet, our fellowship with the Father is broken because of deliberate, known sin in our lives. If this is you today, my prayer is that this message will give you hope, confidence and practical insight to help you come back to a place of true communion with the Father.

Back to the Father’s Presence

                Suffering from what I call PES (or Perennial Emptiness Syndrome), I knew that something had to change. I was thirsty and hungry. I was completely malnourished spiritually. So one day, as I cried out to God, with a huge list of complaints as to why I could not make more time in my crazy, hectic schedule to fit Him (I shudder just to think that I actually said that,) He mercifully showed me, step by step, how to come back to Him:

1)      He whispered: “Pray – without – ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17 – NASB)

                God showed me that not having an hour a day to kneel down and pray is never an excuse for His children to stay away from Him. And so the journey back to the Father’s presence started, as I awkwardly prayed my way through each day… while doing the laundry, while warming the baby’s bottle, while preparing dinner. Pray without ceasing – in other words, talk to Me, as you do, when a friend visits your house for the weekend.

                Seven years later, I’m still the crazy lady who “talks to herself a lot.” Or so some people think. I talk to Him driving down the interstate in the craziness of rush hour traffic.  I am always listening, talking to my Daddy. Someone needs a prayer? I don’t have to schedule time on my busy day to intercede. I close my eyes and pray, right where I am. And I know He hears me, for I know His name.

2)      Read His Word – every day

“They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your Word is truth.” John 17:17

                God’s Word is His voice. It’s the most effective, trustworthy way to know that what you hear is true and coming from God, not from someone else’s interpretation or opinion. Every child of God should reach out to Him by reading the Bible, even if it means to meditate on one verse a day. On some hectic days, I read a verse and meditate upon it. I look up the original text so I know what He really said. Frequently one verse is all it takes to convict, encourage or admonish me. One whisper from God and I know His heart, for I know His name.

3)     Turn off the World

“Don't love the world's ways. Don't love the world's goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him.”  1 John 2:17 (The Message)

                Several years ago, in the beginning of our marriage, my husband and I used to listen to secular music a lot. As we paid attention to the lyrics we realized that most of them, although seemingly harmless, only exalted worldly desires, human understanding and passions. We both wanted to be closer to God, so we made the decision to stop listening to country radio and pop music. We started listening to praise and worship music and Christian singers and less of the world’s music. We also decided that some TV programs and movies are a waste of our time and money. They proclaim that man is lord, not God; they exalt promiscuity, heresy and violence. Therefore we try to fill up our minds with things that at least are not so bluntly against what we believe to be true. We still watch TV sometimes, but we try to watch those programs that do not promote ungodly agendas to our society. If you want a good place to find ratings and description on movies and programs you are watching, visit Focus On the Family’s Plugged In website at www.pluggedIn.com. I love this resource. It saves me a lot of time and money.

                I know that for some people reading this post, these thoughts may be extreme. Well, you are right - they are. There is no middle ground in the Father’s House. If you want to be near Him, you must seek Him. And if you are to find Him and abide in His presence, you must seek Him with a pure heart and with a life that honors Him. For there is no darkness in the Father’s presence.

“O Lord, you are my lamp. The Lord lights up my darkness.” 2 Sam 22:29

                I have shared with you a small part of my journey back to the Father’s house. These were just the first steps. What happened next is that, as I intentionally sought Abba Father for comfort, wisdom and protection, I kept coming back for more. The truth is, the more your seek God, the more you’ll trust Him and the more you trust Him, the more you will seek Him and the more you will want to know Him. Before you realize it, being in His presence will no longer be an isolated event. It will become a way of life. And as you search Him and find Him, He will start revealing Himself to you in several different ways. He will become the Daddy who protects you, delivers you, guides you, exalts you, vindicates you, enables you and most of all, unconditionally loves you. That’s when you know it – you can call Him Daddy.