Father God, Give Us Your Heart
This would be a common prayer request from the hearts of men around the world – asking to follow the heart of the Father. Why? Because we were made in His likeness. We were made with the capacity to love, to be compassionate, for relationship, especially with the Father.
But we live in a corrupt world. A world that demands every ounce of life from us. Sometimes for many, it’s hard to know where or who to run to, especially for those who do not know Christ. The very idea of running to God the Father for help is unthinkable. Their view of God has been distorted, damaged by the work of others. The church is guilty of this, and we – as followers of Christ all play a part in this, simply because we are the church.
Every man I meet and talk to, whether the conversation is about the things of God, about business, being a father, or simply being a man, they all display one common theme; that we are all sons longing to be loved – and to love. We all want to belong, to be noticed, and to be significant in the eyes of others.
In his book, ‘The Power of Significance’, John Maxwell writes that, “we all have a longing to be significant, to make a contribution, to be a part of something noble and purposeful.” Maxwell refers to ‘significance’ as ‘living a life that matters.’ In other words he says it’s living a life that adds value to the world around us.
How do we as men live in a world that constantly demands our time and tries to redefine what it is to be a man? The answer I believe is a simple one, but the process perhaps for some, is a challenging one.
We need to run to God’s Word which reminds us of who we are in Christ and not allow ourselves to be condemned by the world no matter the journey we each go through. Consider these truths:
- We were made in the image of God; in His likeness we were formed. (Genesis 1:27)
- The Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead, dwells in us, the same Spirit through whom we have been adopted as the sons of God, and by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:11,15)
To have any godly significance in my family, I first had to learn who the Father is, and who I am in Him. This is His heart – that we know Him intimately and through that knowledge, we will then begin to understand the world we live in.
My prayer for us all this Father’s Day, is that we run to the Father for His love and wisdom, to know Him more, and ask what is on His heart for us.
In His richest blessings
Frank Po Ching