I love that we began yesterday with thoughts on the Fatherhood of God.  It really is crucial for us to see Him as Father and not just as Parent.  While our mothers nurture and protect, our fathers are meant to affirm, to call us out from the safety and protection of mother into our own identity and purpose.  He names us and affirms us.

Did you know that infants don’t even know they are separate from their mother?  The father’s voice calls the child out into his or her own identity.  The same is true of our heavenly Father.

Even though many of us have been challenged on that front because of issues with our earthly fathers, the grace of God can lead us into the very Presence of our Heavenly Father, who fills and heals that void and delights over us as not even the best earthly father can.  (I owe a huge debt to Leanne Payne for teaching this truth to so many!)

Day 2’s reflection continues in the same vein, but broadens the scope to focus not only on who God is in relation to us as Father, but who He is in His transcendence over all creation.

…WHO ART IN HEAVEN…

You dwell in the heavens, Father, in the high and holy places.  Your ways are not our ways.  Your thoughts are not our thoughts.  You are not of this world, but You exist in eternity, outside time, so you know all things and see all things.  Nothing is hidden from You.  All of creation is naked before You.  You know every blade of grass, every stalk of corn.  You know every drop of rain that falls to the ground.  You drench all of Creation with Your presence.  You fill the earth with Your grace and favor.  You see all, and Your purposes are at work in all that we see as You extend Your will and focus Your eye on all You have made.  You are eternally exalted, transcendent over all You have made.  Nothing in all creation can contain You—no mountain, no sea, no wood or valley—not even the sky, either by day in its single-starred brilliance or by night in its crowded and glorious host.  Though none contain You, all speak of You and point the way to You, for though You dwell in heaven, and Your creation knows You and resonates with the memory of Your calling-into-being Voice.  We ring like a struck bell, we testify to the One who lives on high and before Whom every knee bows, in order that You would be exalted to an ever higher place.  Glory to You forever, Lord God of the heavens!