Your Ultimate JourneySample

DEAL WITH YOUR FATHER ISSUES

2 CORINTHIANS 6:18

Think about your dad

God’s design and plan for dads in His creation were and is to give love to their children by guiding, protecting, and taking good care of them. Ephesians 6:4 If you have a generally positive experience of your dad, or whoever raised you, take a moment and thank God for him or her.

Unfortunately, we live in a broken world and many of us come from broken homes. You must deal with these things to prevent them from influencing your relationship with God and others negatively. If you grew up without a dad, think of the person(s) who raised you and write down which of the following applies to you:

My dad…

• I never knew him; and mom got divorced; was/is absent; didn’t/doesn’t show or respect emotions; was/is angry, violent, or abusive; never or seldom told me he loves me; never showed me he loves my mother; never provided for or protected me; always has time for other people, but not for me; ignores me; loves my brother or sister more than me; puts pressure on me to be successful and perform well; never disciplines me; insults me; is controlling and manipulative; doesn’t want to know me; left my mom when she was pregnant with me; never wanted me; abandoned me; blames/d me for everything that went/goes wrong; is disconnected.

Adapted from: Our Father by Sias le Roux (2014)

You asked God to forgive all your sins and He did. Now He asks you to forgive those who have sinned against you. Colossians 3:13 & Matthew 6:14-15 It’s only fair. Remember, forgiveness is a decision, not a feeling.

Let’s pray:

Heavenly Father, with Your help I forgive {name them one by one: your dad and others who helped to raise you} for all they have done to me. I will no longer hold anything against them—in Jesus’s name, amen.

Your ultimate Father

God wants to be a better dad for you than any earthly father could or can ever be. 2 Corinthians 6:18

Do you accept God as your ultimate Dad? Why or why not?

Lord, please help me to put the past behind me and to live in the freedom that forgiveness brings. I accept you as my ultimate Father—in Jesus’s name, amen.

PHILIPPIANS 3:13-14