"Restructuring Our Mental Image Of God" - JR Everhart

Try this exercise:  Sit down and write out everything a warm and loving father should be to their children.  This looks a little different from person to person because our needs are different.  Don’t worry, God is big enough to meet them all.  Once you have your list written out, read it as if you’re describing your Heavenly Father to a friend.  In other words, this is just WHO HE IS without question. 

Here’s what mine would look like:

“My father loves me so much he would work three jobs to make sure I’m taken care of.  He would listen to me when I’m hurting and comfort my pain.  He would celebrate my victories and weep with me at my defeats.  He hates that I was abused as a child.  He’s been very patient with me throughout my life considering my many mistakes (attempting to process abuse).  He still smiles when he looks at me, even with full knowledge of all my failure.  He doesn’t just love me… he likes me and sees the intentions of my heart.  He’s strongest when I’m weak and need him, but also challenges me on the deepest levels to be the best version of myself I can be.  He’s never distant when I stop long enough to listen for his voice.  He hears my requests and knows what’s best for me far better than I do.  Even when I get frustrated with him, because life’s not working out the way I think it should, he’s still patient and gentle with me.  He never loses his temper with me because Jesus quenched his anger at Calvary for my cause.  I admit to feeling quite unworthy of such a caring father.  He’s loved me in times that I couldn’t even love myself.  In times when I was lost in the dark carnival of this world.  He never gave up on me.  He’s restored me a million times and never once told me I wasn’t enough nor asked why I kept struggling with the same sin over and over.  He only asks for a meal with me every day.  A time to sit and chat about the day with him.  He’s never ashamed to sit with me, and always considers my table to be the "cool kids' table".  His love is so deep it makes me smile just thinking about it.  I’ll never know why he loves me so much.  I’m just thankful he does.  Hence, I trust him with all my heart, mind, and soul!”