THE FATHER’S PROMISE

WORD

Father to the fatherless, defender of widows— this is God, whose dwelling is holy. - Psalm 68:5

THOUGHT

While the global statistics of orphans vary, it’s clear that there are millions of children under the age of eighteen across the globe who are parentless. The leading causes of this human tragedy are disease, poverty, war, natural disasters, abandonment, and accidents. Add to this children who are living in conditions where caregivers are laden with substance abuse, and the numbers rise. And if we consider the countless two-parent homes that are filled with overworked, absent, and disconnected parents who chase down extravagant materialism, then the numbers of neglected children would continue to increase worldwide.

One memory I will carry with me for the rest of my life occurred while volunteering for a children’s ministry outreach to under-supported children. I will never forget a small girl, perhaps six to seven years of age, who walked up to me in a crowd of eighty to ninety such children. I said hello, and as she looked up at me with big brown eyes, she spoke these words in sincere, heartbreaking vocal tones: “Would you please be my daddy?”

God is the perfect Father in every way. He is perfect in character, love, motive, and care. Through the work of Christ, he has annihilated the eternal effects of the spirit of fatherlessness to all who would enter into his care. He is the hope and healer for those wounded and longing for the affection of his holy fatherhood. He promises his sons and daughters to never forsake and never abandon them. He is forever our Father.

PRAYER

Father, in you is hope the for the ultimate provision of paternal influence. Thank you for your perfect Father’s heart, thank you for being the perfect Father—our Father in heaven, our Father forever.

Give us today the food we need.