OUR PICTURE OF GOD

How do you envision God?

Many Christians have an incomplete picture of God. Often it's difficult to picture Him as a father, especially if our experience with an earthly father hasn't always been top notch. Or it may be we picture God as every Christian's father, which He is. But can you picture Him as YOUR VERY OWN PERSONAL Father Who loves you unconditionally?

And because we don't understand God's righteousness and our righteousness in Him, we don't see Him in His total love and forgiveness. Therefore we have feelings of guilt and unworthiness which result in condemnation. Romans 8:1 says, "There is, therefore, now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

Although we know that God has forgiven us our wrongdoings, we often fail to forgive ourselves. and therefore have a bruised and blighted sense of self-esteem. Because of these things, we don't enjoy the sense of His presence we'd like to.

How can we develop a Father/God relationship? Meditating daily on the Word and speaking to Him in prayer will help us to know more about His presence, about His love and His forgiveness. Keep in mind that we have a God of acceptance, and focus on that acceptance as well as on His overwhelming forgiveness.

Remember, when God forgives, He forgets. We're human and keep remembering the sins of the past that have been forgiven. But why drag them up again and again when God has not only forgiven them but has also forgotten them?

In other words, we must learn to see ourselves as God sees us -- as children of His who have been forgiven and who are precious in His sight. I like to picture myself walking under a clear, plastic "see through" umbrella of His love. And then I think not of how I see myself, but of how God sees me as He looks at me through that "see through" umbrella with His eyes of love and forgiveness.

As you meditate on Him and His Word, keep telling yourself, "I'm God's child. I'm precious in His sight, and He is my Father. Then watch how your picture of God changes!

Preacher's Kid