Tribute to the Father

As a child, I grew up under the strong hand of a
wonderful, loving and godly father. (Sometimes I felt his hand was a bit
stronger than necessary, but looking back, I can see why he had to be so firm
with me.) Whenever Father’s Day came around, I was always happy to either make
or buy a card for him, give him a token of my love and make his day special. It
was a day I looked forward to.

As an adult, I appreciated Daddy even more and, with a
husband and family of my own, came to understand more fully the need to be firm
but loving. When we moved to Florida many years ago, it seemed that Arkansas
(Daddy’s home) was continents away from ours. We spoke on the phone quite often
but were able to see each other only a couple of times a year.

When Daddy died, I felt alone. Although I had a husband and
family, there was nothing like having my daddy to talk to. I knew he loved me
no matter what my faults or failures were and always wanted the best for me.

Even after Daddy died, I still loved Father’s Day. It was
always a special day in our home. I enjoyed watching our three daughters make
or buy cards and gifts for their daddy. We would fix his favorite foods and
make him “King for a Day.”

But there was always that longing for my own daddy,
especially on Father’s Day.

In time, my husband left the girls and me for another
woman. I thought I would die. With my
father and my husband gone, I felt abandoned and found myself desiring even
more to talk to my daddy.

Then one day—on a Saturday before Father’s Day–our heavenly
Father saw my desire and met it in a powerful way.

My soon-to-be ex-husband was coming over to see the girls
for Father’s Day. I was sitting on the floor of my bedroom, wrapping gifts for
him and crying out to the Lord.

“What about me,” I sobbed, “and what about my children?”

I felt His presence in the room, and He directed me to read Isaiah
54. I had no clue what that particular chapter was about before I turned to it.
I read that the woman who was once “wooed and won” in her youth and scorned in
later years is not truly alone because the Lord, her Maker, is her Husband (see
vv. 5-6, “The Amplified Bible”). The passage also says that her children will
be taught of the Lord, that they will take the nations and that their peace
will be great (see vv. 3,13).

From that moment on, I knew the girls and I would be fine.
The Father has proved Himself time and time again and has become whom He
promised He would be to us.

Father’s Day is still a delight, though it’s not about my
daddy or about my girls’ daddy. I celebrate every Father’s Day with joy,
knowing that our precious heavenly Father is more than enough. He can’t go back
on His word or disappoint us. I am overwhelmed by His goodness and will always
be His delight, His “little girl.”

On this Father’s Day and every day, I thank
Him, from the bottom of my heart, for being my Father.

PRAYER POWER FOR THE WEEK OF 6/11/2012

This week thank the Lord that He is a Father to the
fatherless and One who will never leave nor forsake us. Ask Him to raise up
fathers in the church to love, nurture, instruct and guide those in need of a
father’s blessing. Ask Him to turn the hearts of the fathers toward their
children and the children toward their fathers. Thank Him for the church
fathers He has used through the years to establish our heritage. Pray for
single fathers who are raising their children without a spouse to share the
love and responsibility for their upbringing. Continue to pray about the
disintegration of the family unit in our land, and ask God to restore the
foundations both in and out of the church. Remember the upcoming
elections and pray that we, as God’s people, will seek His face and vote as He
directs. 2 Chron. 7:14; Psalm 68:5-6; Proverbs 17:6

To enrich your prayer life and learn how to strategically pray with power by using appropriate scriptures, we recommend the following sources by Apostle John Eckhardt: Prayers that Rout Demons, Prayers that Bring Healing, Prayers that Release Heaven on Earth and Prayers that Break Curses. To order any or all of these click here.