GOD Is Father, not mother
Knowledge of The Father Comes Through The Father's Son
Matthew 11:27
"All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows The Son except The Father, and no one knows The Father except The Son and those to whom The Son chooses to reveal Him."
John 14:6
Jesus said unto him, "I Am The Way, The Truth, and The Life: no man comes to The Father, but by Me."
In The Garden (before His arrest)
Mark 14:36
And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”
Heirs With Christ
Romans 8:15
For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received The Spirit of Adoption by Whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”
We Are Sons and Heirs
Galatians 4:6
And because you are sons, God sent The Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”
God is referenced as Father 245 times in The New Testament compared to 15 times in The Old Testament.
More of the nature of a heavenly Father is revealed to us, if we only look--seek--for Him.
The example of prayer given in Matthew 6:9, commonly referred to as The Lord's Prayer, indicates that a believers can call God their Father when they pray. He tells them in Matthew 6:1-4 that they have a heavenly Father who is watching them.
And in verse 6, Jesus tells His disciples to go into a secret room--a room set apart for communing with God--and pray to Him.
Matthew 6:9
"In this manner, therefore, pray:
'Our Father Who is in heaven, Hallowed be (Holy is) Your Name."
But then Jesus warns His disciples on forgiveness. If they who believe and follow Him forgive the people who do them wrong, then their heavenly Father will forgive them their sins. But if they do not forgive these persecutors, then their Father cannot forgive them of their sins. Forgiveness is empowering to the weary soul who belongs to our heavenly Father. (Matthew 6:14-15)
Don't make it obvious you are fasting, either (vs 16). Fast according to how God wants us to fast (vs 17) and He, our heavenly Father, will see our obedience and reward us properly.
Matthew 6:19-24 Neither a collector, nor a hoarder, be. Store treasures in heaven (Proverbs 11:30). Serve God and Him only. Chasing after the things which are not of God is a waste of time and effort. Be generous with what God, our heavenly Father, has given us. But if we withhold that which we have been given, how much greater is the loss for us!
Matthew 6:25-34 tells us that our Father is also our Provider. And that when we seek Him and His kingdom, He will provide everything we need.
Though I have known hunger, and had no $ to purchase food, my children and I formed a circle and prayed that God would provide for us. And He did. Minutes later there was a knocking on the door and a couple of friends had their arms filled with bags of groceries. That's my God, my heavenly Father, at work providing for His children.
