“This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” Matthew 6:9 (NIV)

Out of all the scriptures covered in the Old Testament, from Genesis thru Malachi, God is only called “Father” seven times. In that culture climate, they thought of Him in ways like Creator, Almighty One, etc. But they didn’t think of God as Father. Then Jesus comes along and says “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name’” (Matthew 6:9 NIV).“ Jesus literally says, “Call Him Father”

Jesus uses the expression “Father” more than 150 times to refer to God. God is not an angry tyrant. God is not a cosmic bellman or prayer bellboy. He is not an impersonal force. God is a personal God who wants to have a relationship with you. There is only one problem, there are some who just don’t think of God as Father. For many people, the name “father” is a negative term that brings up all kinds of bad memories. From this, we have a lot of people who may say, “‘Our Father in heaven” just to decipher a major difference. Here’s what is real, there are some human fathers that have made their family’s home a hell on earth. While many fathers are loving and kind, others can be fickle, moody, abusive, controlling, manipulative and violent. So the words “our Father in heaven” can carry baggage or even be a trigger. Many people never connect with God because they unconsciously think God is like their earthly father. They will impose their mixed-up hurts and emotions from their human fathers onto God. 

If their earthly father is unreasonable, they will tend to think God is unreasonable. If their father is unreliable, they may think God is unreliable. If they just don’t understand their earthly father, they might think they could never understand God either.

Misconceptions can make it to difficult to connect, thus keeping people disconnected from God. 

To understand the truth of what God the Father is really like, you need to let go of any misconceptions and myths you have about him.

Discovering the truth about God, as well as who God really is, will set you free to have a loving relationship with Him as your Father!

I want to leave you with these two questions to consider. Just take some time today or later in the week to think on them and apply them. 

1. When Jesus instructs us to pray “Our Father in heaven,” what kinds of feelings or images come forth for you?
2. What positive father characteristics have you associated with God?

"For as in one body we have many members,[a]and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another." Romans 12:4-5

One of the most common descriptions of the church in the Bible is the “Body of Christ.” What Jesus Christ did when he was here in his physical body, he wants us to continue to do today. 

We are the body of Christ on earth. We are part of him. We literally represent his hands, his feet. We are most times the only representation of Jesus that people will see, and most times the only bible some people have ever seen. 

Let me suggest that everybody’s needed in the body of Christ, and in God’s family. We are all parts of it. Shiloh and friends let me also suggest that it takes every one of us to make it complete.

Consider us, the body of Christ (the Church), being like a jigsaw puzzle. When you are building a jigsaw puzzle and you’ve got one part missing, no matter how small or big the puzzle is, you notice that one missing piece. 

That’s the same for the body of Christ. Everybody’s needed. You may say, “Oh I’m just a toenail or a fingernail in the body of Christ.” Have you ever lost a toenail or a fingernail? You notice it, DAILY!!!

Never mistake or confuse prominence and significance. Something can be prominent but not significant. Whereas something that is significant doesn’t have to be prominent. 

Have you ever felt like you are not a prominent or significant part of the Body of Christ? How did it impact your connection to the body?? Do you know of someone who is in this space now?

Let me be of some encouragement, you don’t have to be prominent in the body of Christ to be vital. Always remember that you are significant!!! What you offer and who God has made you to be is enough. There are so many parts of the human body that are not prominent that are extremely vital so you can function. In Christ’s body, though there are many parts, remember everyone is needed in the church. We all have work for the advancement of His kingdom to do!

“The LORD is near to all who call on him.”  Psalm 145:18 (NIV)

God feels so far away from us during times of our most difficult struggles. There are also moments where our main struggle is how far away He seems to be when we are trying to feel or be close to Him.  

Even though He may sometimes feel farther away, this text reminds us and encourages us that He’s always near. He’s as close as your next breath. God is even closer than your next minute, your next second. He’s with you every moment of every day.

The Bible says in Acts 17:27, “God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us” (NIV).

Yesterday you may have felt that God was right there with you, while today you may feel like He is nowhere near you. Truth is, your feelings and reality don’t always match. I want to suggest this reality to you: God is with you right now!!!!! 

Consider these three truths about God:

1. God is never too busy for you. Psalm 145:18 says, “The LORD is near to all who call on him” (NIV). Every time you call, God is near. You are on His mind a lot more than you think. He thought about you before you were born. He thinks about you every moment of every day. You may get too busy for God, but he never gets too busy for you.

(What changes do you need to make in your life so that you are not too busy for Him?)

1. God loves to meet your needs. He doesn’t do it begrudgingly. He loves it! Mathew 7:11 says, “If you . . . know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (NIV). You can enjoy the fact that God loves giving good gifts to you. He loves to bless you.

(What do you need to call on God for today?)

III. God is sympathetic to your hurts. Whenever you go through something that’s tough, remember this verse: “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18 NIV).

God is close to you, and he understands what you’re going through. Turn to him. And you’ll find that He is already right there with you.

12 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us," Hebrews 12:1 (ESV)

Have you ever paid attention to the reality that it’s easier to pick up bad habits than it is to get rid of them? 

• What are some your bad habits?
• What sin in your life is causing distractions? Keeping you from focusing spiritually??

Here’s a glance into why it’s so hard for many to get rid of your bad habits:

1. Because you’ve held on to them for a long time. You didn’t collect your habits, hurts, and hang-ups overnight. Many of these patterns were established over a length of time. They become familiar. Even if they aren’t helpful, you hang on to them. Studies have shown that it takes a little as 7 days to create a habit, but more than 90 days to break it. 
2. Because you identify with them. We often confuse and attach our identity with our defects, or we even allow others the power to do so.  And most times it causes many to have an unconscious fear of change. This can also make people believe that they cannot change. 
3. Because Satan fights it. Satan doesn’t want you to be transformed and set free. The moment you get serious about changing, he starts whispering to you, “Who do you think you are? You can’t change. You’ve tried to change in the past; it won’t work. You may as well give up!” He wants you to be comfortable being the worst version of yourself. He doesn’t want you to see yourself as God sees you. 

Cleaning up, changing, becoming a better you is never easy. It takes time. You will have to remind yourself of your identity in Christ; makes no difference in how new or old you are in the faith. The text says, “Lay aside every weight, and the sin that clings so closely.”

For every bad habit you can identify, replace it with a good habit that will help you become more Christlike.   Also rely on the Holy Spirit, whose power in you is greater than Satan’s attacks. This mindset will help you to live better, eat better, become healthier, and experience an incredible life. 

46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47 and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hand.” 48 When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine.

1 Samuel 17:46-48 (ESV)

Before David faced Goliath in 1 Samuel 17:46-48, he also had to fight through some mental giants in the pre-text of this chapter. Might I suggest that in vs 33, Saul reveals to David that he believes he will not win. The record shows no one was willing to face Goliath, not even Saul because of fear.  

We all have either faced, are facing, or will face some type of mental giant that can be just as big and intimidating as Goliath. Beloved there are also those spaces where we will have to face a “life type of Goliath” (sickness, life challenge, exams, interviews, etc.). We need to get through those thoughts that can keep us from becoming who God desires or even fulfilling the dream that He has put in our heart. Here are some of the mental giants David pressed through before he set out to face Goliath.

I. Delay. No dream is fulfilled instantly!!!! It doesn’t always manifest right away. It may be years before you see the fulfillment of your life’s dream. There is always a waiting period.

Here’s what’s deep concerning David; his father held him back from his dream. 

After Samuel anointed David as king, Jesse told David to get back to tending the sheep!

When it’s God’s plan, there will always be someone or something that will show a contradiction.  People may try to hold you back. Life changes may pop up to keep you down. Always expect the possibility of DELAY. When God allows a delay, it does not mean you’ve been denied. 

God is faithful, and he will complete his work in you in his timing.

II. Disapproval. David’s own brother questioned his motives about being there and disapproved of David going after Goliath. It is easy for people who trust and have faith in God to be misunderstood by people who are afraid to do the same. That is when you must decide what matters to you the most, the approval of others or God’s approval.

III. Discouragement. Goliath created a climate of fear as an enemy, and everyone was convinced they would lose in a fight against him. What statistic are you seeing that suggests you will not win? Who is speaking negatively around you, putting down your dream/vision to you? What or who is saying it won’t ever happen, or you won't be able to get it done? That’s what Saul tried to do to David mentally. He was an “expert” at battle, putting his opinion on David’s destiny. He literally told David he was too young, not experienced enough to succeed against a “Goliath”!!! Words like these from someone, or even just having these types of thoughts can make anyone start to doubt themselves.  “The Devil Is A LIE!!!!” Believe in yourself and know that your ability is empowered by God!!! “This giant is nothing. I am more than a conqueror because through God all things are possible!!!”