Run to the Father
"But when he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son..."— Luke 15:20
This morning, as I worshiped, I found myself singing about needing more of God. Wanting more of Him. Wanting to be taken back to that secret place where everything else becomes quiet and it's simply Him and me.
And suddenly, I pictured Him. Not seated on a distant throne. Not somewhere unreachable. But sitting in the place where I spend time with Him... quietly waiting for me. Then I saw a younger version of myself running toward Him. No hesitation. No trying to compose myself first. No wondering whether I had spent enough time with Him lately. Just running. And I pictured my Father picking me up and spinning me around.
I couldn't help but think... Thank You for being my Abba Father. The Father who waits. The Father who welcomes. The Father whose arms are still open. There are days when my time with God becomes almost like passing someone in the hallway. "Hey, God. Love You." And then I keep moving. There's homework to finish. Work to do. People who need me. Responsibilities waiting. A hundred things competing for my attention. And God is gracious even there.
But there are also moments when a passing hello isn't enough. There are moments when my soul needs to run home. Jesus often withdrew from everything around Him to be alone with the Father (Luke 5:16). He showed us that withdrawing isn't always escaping responsibility. Sometimes it's remembering where our strength comes from.
There is something about the secret place that cannot be replaced by productivity. Something happens when we stop talking long enough to simply sit with Him. No agenda. No checklist. No rushing to the next thing. Just Father and child.
Romans 8 tells us that we have received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry, "Abba, Father." Not distant God. Not reluctant Father. Abba. And maybe that's what my heart needed to remember today. I don't always have to approach God as the responsible adult trying to hold everything together. Sometimes I can come as His child. I can run. I can rest. I can let myself be held.
There will always be something else I should be doing. But there is nothing quite like being in the arms of the Father. Maybe you've been giving God passing hellos lately too.
You're not necessarily running away from Him. Life has simply gotten loud, busy, and full. Maybe today isn't about adding another spiritual task to your list. Maybe it's simply an invitation... Come sit with Me. The Father is already there. And His arms are still open.
Prayer
Abba, thank You for being a Father I can run to. Forgive me for the times I've rushed past Your presence because everything else felt more urgent. Teach me to treasure the secret place again... not out of obligation, but because I genuinely want to be with You. Quiet everything competing for my attention and remind me that before I am anything else, I am Your child. Sometimes I don't need another answer. I just need my Father. And today, I choose to run into Your arms. Amen.
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