Copyright © 2015 Brent Lokker
Previously published as Daddy, You Love Me
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Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. Scripture taken from the New King James Version (NJKV). Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture taken from The Message (MSG). Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Scripture taken from The Mirror Translation (TMT) by François du Toit. www.mirrorword.net. Used by permission. Scripture taken from The New Jerusalem Bible (NJB), copyright © 1985 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd. and Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc. Reprinted by Permission. Scripture taken from The Revised Standard Version (RSV) of the Bible copyright © 1946, 1952 and 1971 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches in the USA. Used by permission. All Rights Reserved. Scripture taken from The New Revised Standard Version of the Bible (NRSV) copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches in the USA. Used by permission. All Rights Reserved. Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version (CEV) © American Bible Society 1991, 1992, 1995. Used with permission. Scripture taken from The Bible in Basic English (BBE), which is in the public domain. Scripture taken from The Source New Testament (TSNT). Copyright © 2004 by Ann Nyland. Used by permission of Smith and Stirling Publishing. All rights reserved. Scripture taken from The Bible: James Moffatt Translation (JMT), Copyright © 1922, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1935 Harper Collins, San Francisco, CA, Copyright © 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954. Scripture taken from The New Testament: A Translation by William Barclay. Westminster John Knox Press. © The Estate of William Barclay, 1968, 1999. Scripture taken from The Word on the Street. Published by Zondervan. Copyright © 2003,2004 by Rob Lacey. Scripture taken from the Common English Bible®, CEB® Copyright © 2010, 2011 by Common English Bible.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Cover design: Yvonne Parks of www.pearcreative.ca
Interior design: David Sluka at www.david-sluka.com
ALWAYS LOVED
YOU ARE HIS TREASURE, NOT HIS PROJECT
Paperback ISBN-13: 978-0-9882164-2-6
ebook ISBN-13: 978-0-9882164-3-3
eISBN-978-0-9882164-3-3
Contact Brent Lokker at www.brentlokkerministries.com
Printed in the United States of America
ENDORSEMENTS
The purpose of Always Loved can be summed up in this verse: “We love, because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Discovering the love that is beyond measure has been a great challenge for so many. Author Brent Lokker does all of us a great service by addressing the lies that hinder our perception of such love and the truths that supersede such lies. Chapter by chapter, you will journey into the full discovery of His love that doesn’t have to be earned. You will be encouraged by realizing who you are in the Father’s eyes, which then makes it normal to truly love the broken and to carry out great exploits.
BILL JOHNSON
Author of Hosting the Presence and When Heaven Invades Earth
I just experienced waves of liquid love as I read this book. The Agape Reformation has started. Brent is a lover who will take you into the affection of your Heavenly Father. The Baptism of Love is personal, powerful, and passionate. Transform your life and the world around you by receiving love and giving it away.
LEIF HETLAND
Author of Seeing Through Heaven’s Eyes
The whole church world is being enlivened by a rediscovery of God as Father. To know Him at any level is to recognize that of all the things He wanted to be called, Jesus who knows His Father’s heart, commanded us to pray, “Our Father…” Had He wanted something besides sons and daughters, He would have had us call Him something besides a Father! The rediscovery of God as Father is at the heart of revival and as the truth and dynamic of is known, the fruit of this reviving will prove immediate and residual.
The Father/Son paradigm is not only the centerpiece of civilization; it is the DNA of the entire cosmos. Thank you, Brent, for a clear voice and a good read in this splendid book.
JACK TAYLOR
President, Dimensions Ministries, Melbourne FL
At the high price of the Cross of Christ, the Lord of the Universe birthed sons and daughters. In Always Loved Brent invites you to personally encounter what Jesus paid for: the pure love, pleasure and acceptance of our Heavenly Father.
Each chapter beckons you to enjoy the privileged relationship that you are meant to experience as Abba’s beloved child—you will find yourself living, thinking and believing as a son or daughter and bringing Heaven to Earth as you walk into the full riches of your divine inheritance.
GEORGIAN BANOV
President and Co-Founder of Global Celebration
This book comes from the heart-fought struggle of a servant realizing he is a beloved son. Watching this amazing metamorphosis gives Brent all the credibility he needs to write a book in leading others to freedom, joy and peace. Get ready to break free from the performance trap as you experience this book.
DANNY SILK
Author of The Culture of Honor
What Jesus reveals about the Father of the human race puts the devil and religion out of business! Have we not all one father? Has not one God created us? (Malachi 2:10) In God we discover that we are not here by chance or accident, or by the desire of an earthly parent. Neither are we the product of a mere physical conception. We exist by the expression of God’s desire to reveal Himself in the flesh.
Thank you Brent Lokker for your bold declaration of the Father! This is a most needed message that the world must hear!
FRANCOIS DU TOIT
Author of The Mirror Translation
There are good messages, there are significant thoughts, and then there are strategic holy summons that carry a fiery mandate meant to revolutionize the masses. I make it a point to wake up each morning and intentionally receive the inward affirmation and adoration of the Father. I’m convinced that this might be one of the most significant catalysts on the earth. Jesus embodies the perfect model and will of the Father for all of His sons and daughters and He began His ministry with this epic Paternal download. The Old Testament concludes with this mandate that centers around turning the hearts of the fathers to the hearts of the sons or else a curse is left in its wake. One of the greatest disorders (curses) in our hour is the orphaned spirit that drives so many towards an illegitimate mentality and lifestyle. Yet, in order for us to fully walk in this coming move of God (which will sweep the earth and bring about a massive harvest), we must get this message deep down in our hearts.
Brent has written a profound, heartfelt and revelatory book on what is the primary locomotive of the Kingdom—the Father’s Affirmation and Affection. As I read portions of this book, I felt challenged to go deeper in God’s love and I also felt healing from it’s Truth. It’s been said, “There are few things more powerful than an idea whose time has come.” Always Loved is an idea that is both timeless and very NOW! Some messages tweak you and other messages transform you! Revival is coming to the earth in greater dimensions and this TRUTH will be one of the catalysts for the greatest number of exploits and people brought into the Kingdom…ever!
SEAN SMITH
Author of Prophetic Evangelism and I Am Your Sign
www.seansmithminstries.com
@revseansmith
I never get bored with the message of the Father’s Love but I especially love to hear it from those that live it well. Brent is a habitual receiver and giver of the Love of God and was, long before he thought of writing a book. It is this posture of being a lover which has caused him to write in a way which encourages not mere understanding but experience of the love of God towards us. In fact he dares us to believe it is true.
My own journey of learning to receive the Father’s love has radically changed every area of my life as it has countless others. Perhaps this is your first encounter of this teaching, in which case it will change your life too, or perhaps you are familiar with the message in which case I encourage you to open your heart to the more which is about to be revealed.
Though increasingly a common subject this message is not to be treated lightly! Assumed familiarity is a danger which can prevent us from receiving what God “our Daddy” has for us. It cannot merely be learned it must be encountered and this book will lead you through Brent’s personal experiences, stories and teaching to encounter after encounter.
As for me I continue to learn from every angle taken to teach about being loved and loving our heavenly Dad. Whatever your role in life get ready for an upgrade. This last year I was pursued by this message and discovered how essential it is in an area which I am gifted: ‘The Gift of Administration’, learning that managing and leading must come from the heart of a son. This book will lead you on your own journey and as with my particular ministry it will bring an upgrade to yours as you embrace the heart of a son or daughter.
PAUL MANWARING
Author of What On Earth Is Glory and Kisses From a Good God
Wow! Always Loved is an amazing book of connecting with God’s Father heart for us all. Born out of real life experiences, Brent Lokker speaks with authority in this area. It will bring healing and lift you to unlimited possibilities through God’s love.
DOUG ADDISON
InLight Connection, Author of Understand Your Dreams Now
www.dougaddison.com
There’s always passion whenever you’re talking about your life message, and that’s what comes across in Brent’s book Always Loved. And this is such a needed message. A recent national survey showed that 78% of Americans have a distorted view of God, seeing God as authoritative, controlling, critical or distant. Only 22% of those surveyed saw Him as a loving, benevolent God. And we’re certain those statistics aren’t limited to just the USA—it’s universal.
This is a timely message that shines through not only Brent’s book, but also in the church that he and his wife, Suzanne, pastor—Blazing Fire in Pleasanton, CA. Father God is wildly, madly, passionately in love with His children, and when we take hold of that message, we can become His agents of love here on planet earth. Through the pages of this book, Brent take us on a journey to discover the true heartbeat of Father God toward us, changing our mindsets, and drawing us into actually experiencing His love for us. And, as Brent points out through wonderful stories, it’s a love that can cause us to change the culture around us.
We’ve been privileged to minister numerous times at Blazing Fire and can testify, this book was born out of Brent and his church actually living out thislife message—a message of the Father’s love. We heartily recommend this book to you.
BILL & CAROL DEW
Revivalists, Founders of Dewnamis Ministries
and Authors of Living the Miraculous Life
In his book, Always Loved, Brent Lokker strikes at the heart of the enemy’s strategy to leave God’s people feeling fatherless and without value. As you read this book you cannot help but be overwhelmed with the immense goodness of the Father and His wholehearted commitment to claim you as His own.
Brent’s message is an authentic expression of his personal journey and intimate relationship with the Father. His powerful revelations lead the reader beyond learning and into an encounter with the transforming love of God. This book is a journey into a life-giving embrace.
DAVID CRONE
Senior Leader of The Mission in Vacaville, CA and
Author of The Power of Your Life Message and Decisions that Define Us
As a great apostolic movement sweeps the earth, experiencing the Father’s love is still the great heartbeat and core petition of this movement. Historically, knowing and experiencing the love of the Father was the epicenter of the Apostle Paul’s prayers. In, Always Loved, Brent Lokker not only hits ground zero in the heart of the Father but exposes his own heart journey as well. This book delivers the blessings that break off your performance shackles and help you step in to the boundless affection of your Heavenly Father.
DAN MCCOLLAM
Sounds of the Nations, Global Legacy Apostolic Team
The Mission in Vacaville, CA
Brent is a gift to the San Francisco Bay Area and the body of Christ. Everyone who has the joy of meeting him has been brushed by the love that he writes about in this book.
This book is a bridge that will help you cross from knowing the truth of God’s love and affection to actually experiencing and expressing it. The discovery revealed here has the power to forever transform whoever receives it.
Prepare for an encounter with your Abba!
CALEB & RACHEL KLINGE
Lead Pastors of New Life Christian Center in Novato, CA
Without a doubt, Brent Lokker has been profoundly touched by Father God’s amazing love. As you read Always Loved, His amazing love for you will become more evident with each page you turn. Daddy’s heartbeat will become the rhythm of the “life of love” that increasingly defines your journey!
GAYLORD ENNS
Author of Love Revolution: Rediscovering the Lost Command of Jesus
Pastor Brent Lokker has done us a great favor writing Always Loved. This book is a thoughtful, balanced and yet impassioned view of God’s love for us, His 21st Century Bride. Many people can experience frustration when in the midst of renewal. Relationship with Father, for whatever reason, seems to slip away. The message of this book is a missing ingredient that will help many understand and rest in Daddy’s Love! Thanks Brent for reminding us that HIS LOVE FOR US saturates everything!”
RICHARD OLIVER
Pastor and Overseer of The River, International Revival Network
There is no shortage in the world of negativity, judgment, brokenness, bad news, or the celebration of someone else’s demise. Is it any wonder people don’t know how to receive, accept, or embrace the love of God? Where are the examples of God’s love? In Always Loved, Brent Lokker takes us on a journey of intimate discovery where we don’t just “hear” God loves us, but one where we encounter personally the love of God, our Father. Who can encounter, yet not receive, the tender gaze, warm embrace, and peaceful, safe, tangible feeling of God’s love? If you’ve searched the world over for love and been left with a feeling of “there’s got to be more,” you’ve found the best path to discovering, encountering, and living in God’s love through this marvelous work of Brent’s. Once freely received, love can be freely given to a dying, hurting, lost world stripped bare of love. As you turn the pages of Always Loved, you are one step… one moment closer to walking in the liberating love of your creator and sharing that love with the world around you.
DICK BERNAL
Senior Pastor of Jubilee Christian Center, San Jose, CA
Author of Shaking Hands with God
I’m excited about Brent Lokker’s book, Always Loved. It’s God’s time like no other for this message to be shared anew. I’ve known Brent for years now to be a man on fire and passionately in love with Jesus. Brent has exemplified our Heavenly Father’s love with his kind and gracious manner and one can’t help but to feel accepted and at ease when you are with him. However, recently I sensed that there was something fresh and more deeply activated in Brent that I understood better when I read some of the chapters of Always Loved. Brent has peeled back some layers of misconception that has hidden some precious eternal truths concerning God’s grace and His extravagant love for you and me. As you read through the pages of Always Loved, you will be encouraged, touched, transformed. You’ll discover, as Brent has, our Heavenly Father really wants you and is celebrating you right now!
PAT CHEN
President, First Love Ministries International Prayer Center, San Ramon, CA “The Secret Place” prayer room, Washington, DC near the White House International speaker and author of Intimacy With the Beloved and The Depths of God
This book carries ESSENTIAL JOY! Your heart’s happiness is richly revealed within these pages! The thrilling saga of the Covenant Love in which your life has been interwoven … the lavish grace of never-wasted love … all here, in beautiful, poetic prophetic prose: Your Love Story. Gospel. Very Good News!
Brent Lokker’s lovely, lush writing captivates, sparkling with interior energy. His profoundly encouraging words of experienced pastoral wisdom teach you to soar. Glorious, gorgeous Grace energizes your faith as you comprehend your identity … perhaps for the first time.
The excitement builds! As you read this easy-to-read, easy-to-understand book, you are mentored by God Your Father Himself and beautifully empowered by the Holy Spirit to understand Christ’s perfect Finished Work on the Cross – all He has accomplished for you!
Most of all, here for you is Brent Lokker’s life message. In these pages, The Blessing of your Heavenly Father is abundantly ministered to you in stellar beauty by a highly honored and greatly loved Father in Revival – my very dear friend Brent Lokker.
Reading this brilliantly insightful, down-to-earth book is rewarding and inspiring. I couldn’t put it down … yet at the same time, I loved putting it down from time to time just to enter into a heavenly reverie inspired by the practicality of Grace (Himself). I recommend this book to all who are longing for closeness to God. Have fun!!
REV. LANI LANGLAIS
San Francisco, California USA
CONTENTS
Foreword by Kris Vallotton
Introduction
SECTION ONE
Revealing the Tender Heart of the Father for You
He’s Much Kinder than You Know
Chapter 1: A Father Who Loves You with All His Heart
Chapter 2: A Father Unlike Any Other
Chapter 3: A Father Who Likes You and Wants You
Chapter 4: A Father Who Celebrates You
Chapter 5: A Father Who Is Committed to Your Success
Chapter 6: A Lavish Father
SECTION TWO
Daring to Believe It’s True
Choosing to Embark Upon the Journey of a Lifetime
Chapter 7: Revealing the Father’s True Heart
Chapter 8: The New Covenant of Grace—Too Good to be True?
Chapter 9: It’s Time to Rest
SECTION THREE
Living a Life of Love that Matters
Transforming Your World
Chapter 10: Know Your Greatness and Walk in It
Chapter 11: Love Always Wins
Chapter 12: The Father’s Blessing
Endnotes
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
My astoundingly good heavenly Father, who has done all things to set me free in Christ so I can thoroughly enjoy my unchanging status as His highly favored, beloved son!
My beautiful wife, Suzanne, who has unwaveringly believed in me and supported me every step of the way in our journey together. I’m blessed beyond measure, my Love!
My two awesome sons, Derek and Aaron, who have provided more joy to me than you’ll ever know. Because of you two, I know the extreme nature of Papa God’s love in a way I never could have.
The elders and all my family at Blazing Fire Church who have lived out with Suzanne and me a culture of extreme love, grace, and honor. What an amazing ride it’s been thus far. The best is yet to come!
Bill Johnson and Kris Vallotton of Bethel Church in Redding, California, for being spiritual fathers to me over the past twelve years, giving me permission to be great and giving me the two thumbs up. I am so very thankful for both of you!
My dad (who’s with Jesus now) and my mom, who gave me the greatest gift imaginable—a deep foundation of love, acceptance, and approval.You’re the best!
Special thanks to Lisa-Anne Wooldridge and Reverend Lani Langlais, who lovingly waded through my manuscripts to make this a much better read. You two rock!
FOREWORD BY KRIS VALLOTTON
The world is full of walking wounded people who long for intimacy but fear rejection. My guess is that this is the most fatherless generation in the history of the world. Broken homes, single parents, and latchkey kids are so common in our culture that it’s become a habit when you see a woman with children to ask her if she is married before you ask her what her husband does for a living. All of this has created a dynamic that has distorted our view of our heavenly Father. For some people, God is like a celestial pimp who prostitutes people to get what He wants from them. But God doesn’t “use people,” He loves them! For others, God is like their rage-aholic stepfather who needs a place to unload some of His anger. These folks believe that God is just waiting for them to make a mistake so He can unleash hell on them. But none of these scenarios represents our heavenly Father’s love for us as Brent points out so powerfully in this book.
Always Loved is more than a book; it’s a Holy Spirit journey into the very heart of God Himself. Brent Lokker has done a masterful job of representing the Father in a way that’s both theologically sound and culturally relevant. He unmasks the lies that have polluted the minds of the multitudes, isolating them from the love and affection of the Father. Brent Lokker proves to us that God is not a cosmic control freak who tolerates His fallen creation, but a loving Daddy who celebrates His sons and daughters.
If your heart is broken and you feel rejected and abandoned, or if you simply struggle to feel loved, Always Loved is the book for you. It will cut a trail through the jungle of broken relationships, betrayals, and abuse, while paving a path to passion in your heart that you never thought was possible!
I highly recommend this book and believe that many people will be released from the slave camps of a loveless master into the arms of their loving Daddy.
KRIS VALLOTTON
Leader, Bethel Church, Redding, CA
Co-founder of Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry
Author of The Supernatural Ways of Royalty and Spirit Wars and others
INTRODUCTION
God is after lovers. He always has been. His heart for us will never change.
We are living in a time of increased revelation of the Father’s outrageous love for His children simply because He will not rest until His true nature as a passionate lover is revealed. God will not be denied His heart’s desire. That desire is closeness and intimacy with each one of us.
As we experience our heavenly Father’s love and affection, no matter what we are going through, we are able to place our entire trust in the One who totally adores us. Intimacy with God is the answer to every deep heart cry that we have. Knowing and experiencing His great affection will see us victoriously through absolutely anything. I’m convinced that this is the key to living and enjoying the abundant life that Jesus promised us.
Certain individuals throughout history have grasped this true heart of the Father, but God has been eagerly anticipating an entire generation who will rise up and believe just how astoundingly good He really is. It’s my conviction we are that generation, and the time is now! God has heavenly realities waiting for us that are above and beyond all we could ask or imagine. We access them by believing that His generous, extravagant heart is always for us, never against us.
I choose to be a voice to inspire a generation to leave behind, once and for all, the notion that working harder to please God will make us happier and make our lives more meaningful. Instead, the invitation and goal is simply to enjoy the One who enjoys us so much!
If you accept and receive the Father’s love for you, the outcome will be a life of purpose that continually overflows and inspires those around you with that very same love. You’ve been invited into a place of perpetual rest in the Father’s pleasure, giving you an ease to life that will lead you step by step into the fullness of your destiny with Him.
This book is written not just for you, but also for God to enjoy forever!
At first glance that statement may seem a bit presumptuous. But the reality is, we are eternal beings and what you and I do on the earth matters to God forever. Each of us has the ability to bring glory to God by displaying the unique reflection of Him that no one else can project in the exact same way. Let’s all unashamedly reflect His glory in the way we were designed to shine!
For those who are seeking to know if there’s a God at all, I applaud your courage to explore the possibility and I want to introduce you to a perfect Father who’s been waiting your whole life to show you who He really is.
To those who view God as a distant father you can never fully please, no matter how hard you try—one who is waiting for you to make a mistake so He can unleash His punishment upon you—I have written this book to ignite hope into your hearts. I have some truly good news for you: God’s heart is to bless you, not to punish you. You have some catching up to do with a Father who actually likes you!
I’ve also written this book to touch the hearts of those who feel stuck in an intellectual understanding of God’s love, frustrated you can’t seem to get it from your head to your heart and experience a genuine encounter of the Father’s affection. For you I have exceptionally good news: God wants you to experience His affection even more than you want it, and He fully intends for you to enjoy these encounters of love with Him.
For you who are already experiencing great depths of the Father’s heart, this book will be a travel guide to more fun places of exploration. In this journey with God as your Father, you need never be disappointed. Your cries for more intimacy have been clearly heard and Papa’s answer is already an emphatic “YES!”
To assist you in this journey, I’ve included declarations of truth to agree with straight from the Father’s heart to yours at the beginning of each chapter. Along the way I’ve provided practical suggestions to help you connect with the Lord’s tenderness toward you in a more tangible way. At the end of each chapter I’ve included reflections to take you deeper personally or discuss with a group that may choose to go through this book together. At the end of the book I’ve supplied a life-giving Father’s blessing for you to enjoy any time you need to be reminded of just how loved and wanted you are.
My prayer for each of you as you read this book is that you will have ever-increasing genuine encounters with your Father in heaven that lead you into deeper intimacy with Him. While reading this book, anytime the Holy Spirit touches your heart with truth that you’ve been longing to hear, stop and savor the moment, soaking in the goodness of God toward you. The truth sets you free, and as the Lord sets you free with His words of affirmation and acceptance, you’ll see your life in a whole new way. The goal is not to rush through this book in order to check one more item off your to-do list but to enjoy, moment by moment, tender closeness with the Lord.
He’s waiting for you at this very moment.
SECTION ONE
REVEALING THE TENDER HEART OF THE FATHER FOR YOU
HE’S MUCH KINDER THAN YOU KNOW
A FATHER WHO LOVES YOU WITH ALL HIS HEART
My child, I am your Father and you belong to Me.
Let Me draw you in and love you.
Please don’t pull back from My total acceptance of you.
My love is the greatest force in the cosmos
and it’s fully fixed upon YOU as My heart’s true desire!
“Tell me again, Daddy!” I heard these words from my two boys when they were toddlers just after I had finished reading a story that had ushered them into a world of wonder and adventure.
Our heavenly Father loves to do the same for us, and like wide-eyed little children, each of us exclaims, “Tell me again, Daddy!”
And He is all too happy to oblige. Listen to a story from His heart: The Father’s Treasure…
Once upon a time there was a Treasure that was too marvelous, too extravagant, too perfect for any earthly words to describe. Although there were treasure-hunters around the world, they were looking for earthly riches and seemed to pass right over the greatest, most costly Treasure of them all. But the Treasure never escaped My gaze. As the King and Ruler of my kingdom, I had to have it at any cost. One day, I sent My son, the Valiant Knight in Shining Armor, to seek after the Treasure and bring it back to Me. We both saw the immense worth of the Treasure and we’d both heard this living Treasure calling out to be found. With a look of intense determination and bravery, the Knight vowed to Me, “I will bring you the Treasure, My Father and King. I must bring you the Treasure!”
In no time at all, the Valiant Knight found the Treasure, but not without peril. For an Evil Rogue was brooding nearby, with the intent of stealing the Treasure for himself for all time to come. With one terrified glance at the Knight, the Rogue saw that his powers were no match for the supreme might of the Valiant Warrior, so he ruthlessly unsheathed his sword, turned toward the Treasure, and hissed, “If I can’t have you, then no one can.”
As the rage-driven sword lunged perilously toward the Treasure, the Knight leaped in and intercepted the sword right in the center of His heart. Breathing His last breath, He exclaimed, “I did it for love!” Then He crumpled lifeless to the ground.
The Dark Rogue screamed in false victory, “You fool! With your death, now and forever the Treasure is all mine!”
But suddenly and without warning, a brilliant, luminescent light flooded the Knight from within. He arched his back and sprang up from the ground to His feet with superhuman power. The sword that had pierced Him melted to nothing. With one blow of His mighty hand, the Knight smashed the Rogue to the ground and shackled him eternally in chains. Looking over the defeated, helpless villain, the Knight exclaimed, “This Treasure is Mine and you will never, ever steal it from Me again!”
With that, the Valiant Knight in Shining Armor scooped up the Treasure and presented it to Me, the King, where it has always belonged.
The Treasure, you see, wasn’t a bag of gold or a priceless painting or even the world’s richest jewels. The Treasure is YOU, My child! You are more valuable to Me than anything and you are with Me forever, right where you belong. I have always wanted you and I will never let you go. And now I have knighted you and I have given you My eyes to see all of the Treasures that encircle the globe. You will see them as I see them, and you will tell them what a good and benevolent King I really am. And with the authority that I have given to you, you will bring them safely to Me, as befits a royal knight such as yourself.
Gazing into our heavenly Father’s eyes of adoration and love, and with our mouths agape in utter amazement, we are left speechless.
Actually, there is one more phrase that passes by our lips:
“Tell me again, Daddy!”
Is it Okay to Call God “Daddy”?
You may be thinking, Isn’t it irreverent to call Yahweh, the Most Holy God, “Daddy”? Irreverence is a failure to give proper honor, significance, or value to one who deserves it. But Jesus came to the earth to introduce the world to His misunderstood heavenly Father, giving Him all honor, significance, and value. Jesus modeled for us closeness with God that went far beyond what any of us thought we could have. He encouraged us to call God “Abba, Father!” The apostle Paul tells us the same thing—we have been given the spirit of adoption, enabling us to cry out, “Abba, Father!”1
To seal our sonship, God has commissioned the Spirit of sonship to resonate the Abba echo in our hearts; and now, in our innermost being we recognize Him as our true and very dear Father. (Galatians 4:6 TMT)
The Hebrew word Abba is the most intimate, affectionate, childlike word you could use to describe a Father. The closest English word might be Da-Da.
Picture a toddler who longs to be in the fun and safe place of his daddy’s arms. So he holds up his little outstretched hands and says, “Up, Da-Da!” What good father’s heart wouldn’t melt at such a tender request from his child? Your heavenly Father’s heart is melted by you! I assure you that there is never a thought in His mind that you are being irreverent or disrespectful if you call out to Him in such childlike sweetness. No, He gladly scoops you up into His arms and gives you the security of His love, gazing on you with joyful affection!
However, most people experience a certain “lag time” when what our spirit knows to be true is eventually felt with our emotions—a seeming disconnect. One of the keys to shortening that lag time of experiencing the truth of Daddy’s great big love for you is to use your voice. By speaking the truth out loud and hearing it audibly, you will internalize it and own it for yourself much more readily.
I experienced this radical transformation many years ago by saying out loud a phrase that caused me to live in the certainty of God’s genuine love and affection for me. Many times a day until I believed it to the core of my being, I would say out loud with enthusiasm and with arms open wide to welcome His presence,
I want to encourage you to try it out right now. It may seem a little awkward at first, especially if you have not known God in this intimate way before. If you want to use a different word than Daddy that is even more special to you, go ahead. Just be sure it’s a word that conveys tenderness to you. Say it out loud and say it like you mean it, even if you are not feeling any warm fuzzies yet. Please set this book down for a moment and do this.
How was that for you? For some of you, just using your voice out loud to speak this was a huge breakthrough. If you are feeling His tenderness, by all means, say it again and linger in the moment. But even if you felt nothing, don’t be discouraged. Trust me that over time this will revolutionize your relationship with your heavenly Father. Keep saying this, out loud, many times a day—like you mean it—and watch what happens. If you skipped right over this exercise, now is your time to go back and say it out loud—really!
Made for Love
Every single person who has ever lived on this earth has the same basic need to be loved. We were made with an insatiable appetite for life-giving love—true, genuine love. Apart from love and nurturing acceptance, people wither and lose heart. Studies have shown that babies who are denied loving physical touch will actually die.2
But the need for love is not just for babies. People of all ages are dying for lack of love. For some that takes the form of an emotional death, where there is simply no more will to live even though the days on the calendar continue passing by. Attempts to numb the loneliness with all forms of excessive indulgences don’t come close to easing the pain. For others it can even take the form of choosing self-destruction to try to permanently end the torment.
The Father’s heart is breaking for His children. God is love, and at this very moment, He is surrounding, filling, and saturating everything and everyone He has created with His all-encompassing love.
His delight with and enjoyment of you is breaking right through any feelings of disconnectedness you may have. He is irresistibly drawing you in.
Your Father in heaven, your Papa, is crying out to you:
“I love you, My child! Hear My heart. I have always loved you!”
You Are Mine
I have two amazing sons, Derek and Aaron, who are now handsome young men. When each of them was born, I had the absolute thrill of a lifetime, holding them just seconds after they entered this world. Cradling each son when he was born, my emotions burst forth and I wept tears of wonder and awe. I couldn’t help it! It was a miracle beyond words.
they were mine!How can I already love you this much?
