Part 3: Reclaiming the Father’s Heart: Restoring Connection with the God,The Father of Love

Reclaiming the Father’s Heart: Restoring Connection with the Father of Love

From the beginning of creation, God’s desire has been relationship. Not religion. Not performance. Relationship. The entire arc of Scripture—from Genesis to Revelation—is a love story about a Father who longs to dwell with His children. And through Jesus, that longing has been fulfilled.

Jesus said, "I have made you (Father) known to them (His followers) … in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” — John 17:25–26 (TPT)

God is not a distant, cold deity. He’s not waiting for you to clean yourself up before coming near. He’s already near. He’s already knocking.

“Look at me. I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me call and open the door, I’ll come right in and sit down to supper with you.” — Revelation 3:20 (MSG)

The Father of Love vs. the Father of Lies

Every day, there is a battle for our hearts. Two fathers. Two voices. One truth.

The Father of Love calls us home with kindness, gentleness, truth, and peace.

The father of lies seeks to separate us from that love, manipulating our pain and past to distort God’s true nature.

"A thief has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect—life in its fullness until you overflow!” — John 10:10 (TPT)

The father of lies uses every tool—trauma, church hurt, broken fathers, spiritual abuse—to whisper:

“You’re not worthy.”

“God has abandoned you.”

“If He really loved you, this wouldn’t have happened.”

These are not truths. They are accusations—fiery darts from the enemy meant to drive a wedge between you and your Heavenly Father.

But the Father of Love says:

“The same way a loving father feels toward his children—that’s but a sample of your tender feelings toward us.” — Psalm 103:13 (TPT)

“To the fatherless he is a father… the lonely he makes part of a family.” — Psalm 68:5–6 (TPT)

Healing the Wounds of Disconnection

If your earthly father—or church leadership—wounded you, you’re not alone. Those wounds are real, but they don’t define your relationship with God. In fact, they may be the very places where He wants to meet you the most.

Healing begins with recognizing the voices:

God’s voice brings peace, love, clarity, and hope.

The enemy’s voice brings fear, shame, confusion, and despair.

“So above all, guard the affections of your heart, for they affect all that you are.” — Proverbs 4:23 (TPT)

Ask yourself: Whose voice am I hearing?

Whenever you hear a thought that drives a wedge between you and God’s love, pause. Discern. And speak back the truth:

“You are deeply loved. You are chosen. You are God’s beloved child.”

God’s Names Reveal His Heart

Let the names of God rewrite your story:

Jehovah Jireh — The Lord who provides (Genesis 22:14, TPT)

Jehovah Rapha — The Lord who heals (Exodus 15:26, TPT)

Jehovah Shalom — The Lord is peace (Judges 6:24, TPT)

El Shaddai — The All-Sufficient One (Genesis 17:1, TPT)

Where others were absent, He was present.

Where others wounded, He is healing.

Where others spoke fear, He whispers peace.

An Invitation to Connection

God’s will is not survival, but wholeness. Not religion, but relationship. Not fear, but love.

“Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, and profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.” — Ephesians 4:31–32 (MSG)

So if you've walked away from God because of pain—come home.

If you've questioned His goodness because of others' failure—look again.

If you’ve feared rejection—rest in His arms.

He is not disappointed. He is delighted in you.

He is not distant. He is close.

He is not condemning. He is calling you beloved.

Let the Father of Love redefine what “father” means to you. Because you are not forgotten. You are not forsaken.

You are loved.

You are His.

And He is always—always—good.

~Pastors Rick and CJ

Prayer of Reconnection: Embracing the Father of Love

Heavenly Father,

Thank You—thank You for Your perfect faithfulness. You have never left me, never turned away from me, even when I turned away from You. Your love patiently waits, tenderly knocking on the door of my heart. I come to You now with gratitude, humbled by Your pursuit, and longing to know more of who You are.

Repent and Reject the Lies

Lord, I confess that I have allowed the enemy—the Father of Lies—to distort my view of You. In moments of pain, trauma, church hurt, or frustration, I listened to those whispers:

“You’re unworthy.”“God has abandoned you.”“If He loves you, this wouldn’t be happening.”

Father, forgive me for believing those lies, and I now renounce them in Jesus’ name. I rebuke the enemy’s accusations and the distortion he planted in my heart.

Holy Spirit, fill me with Your discernment so I may recognize Your voice above all others.

Invite Healing from Earthly Wounds

God, so much of my hurt came from earthly fathers and leaders who failed me. These wounds have left me distant—sometimes defensive, sometimes fearful of intimacy. But You promise to be a father to the fatherless. You promise “beauty for ashes… joy instead of mourning… a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” (Isaiah 61:1–3 TPT)

Jesus, shine Your healing light into the deepest, darkest places—the places the enemy used to whisper disconnection. Bring Your peace, repair my trust, and restore the parts of me that withdrew.

Open My Heart to Your Love

Jehovah Jireh—provide in the places I’ve felt wounded or abandoned. Jehovah Rapha—heal the broken pieces of my past.Jehovah Shalom—fill me with Your peace, calm every anxious thought.El Shaddai—you are more than enough; let that truth be my foundation.

I come as I am, bringing every hurt, every fear, every question. I invite You, Father, to reveal more of Yourself to me—not just in words, but in presence, in nearness, and in truth.

Cry, “Abba, Father!”

Help me rise up within and whisper, “Abba, Father!” (Romans 8:15 TPT) as I become rooted in the reality of being Your beloved child. Let this identity shape every part of who I am.

When accusers rise, Papa, remind me how deeply You cherish me. When doubt comes, remind me that You are both present and pursuing.

Closing Declaration

I release survival mode today and step into a posture of relationship. Not striving. Not performance. Just open, honest connection.

Father—you are delighted in me, not disappointed. You are near, not distant. You are calling me home, not condemning me.

And so I say with trust: You are my Father. I am Yours. And Your love is always, always good.

Amen.

Reflection Invitation:

Take a moment to receive and breathe in that truth—Let it sink deep: You are loved. You belong. Healing is possible.