Shofar Stellenbosch | Our FatherSample

Devotional: The Affirmation and Approval of Our Father (2)

God created the family in order for us to grow and be shaped in an environment where we can understand His love. He desired for children to grow up feeling loved, accepted and secure in their identity.

Where there is a healthy relationship between a father and a mother, a child grows up with a healthy and godly self-esteem. Such a child feels valuable, wanted and important as he or she grows up physically, emotionally and spiritually.

God’s desire is for every child to feel loved and secure. Unfortunately, many of us grow up in broken homes where we suffer hurt and rejection from our families. Many children even grow up without receiving any affection from their parents.

When children grow up with no father or a “father wound”, it may result in them

• Being angry
• Surrendering to obsessions and addictions
• Experiencing pain
• Having no sense of identity or direction
• Responding in rebellion
• Looking for love through sex, homosexuality or other sins

Our Father feels and identifies with our pain (John 11:34-36).

Reflective questions:

1. Describe your family background.
2. Describe the type of affirmation you received from your family.
3. What “negative” labels have people placed on you?
4. Take some time and bring these labels to God. Ask God to renew your mind in these areas.