Does the Love of the Father REALLY Change Your Life?

What’s Love go to do with it? Tina Turner belted out this anthem which is the antithesis of what we purpose to cover in this blog. She essentially sings that love is just a feeling/ emotion that can get in the way of our narcissistic desires and needs. Let me say this as clearly as I can; Love is EVERYTHING! Maybe not the purely physical expression Tina was speaking of, but the Source of the substance of Love; God the Father.

As Lesley and I have traveled around the world, speaking, teaching on this very subject, a few realities seem to consistently bubble up to the top in the people we have the privilege to bring this transformative message to. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list, but because this is a question we hear often, I thought it would be useful to develop some of what we see in many as they attend A schools, B schools and conferences and retreats. Any other questions you have please post in the comments!

As I sat writing this, I realized this is going to be much longer that I originally thought…we have taught on this several times, but I intend to do a more thorough treatment of the subject here; likely in 6 parts. So today we will treat the overview, then deep dive into its parts.

I. Integration

Many years ago, I was in grad-school and a “well-known” ministry was looking to bring me onboard as part of their team. Several interviews, then a laying on of hands time came. It was beautiful, edifying and at the time like something I had not experienced before. (I did not have language for the time of prayer, but the team prophesied over me and my life.) I don’t remember most of it, but I do remember one word. Integration. One of the team after saying some things over my life, said “integration.” He went on to explain that the Lord was bringing together my parts and making me whole. I was still quite young in the Lord, and thought a bit more of myself than perhaps was warranted. At the time it felt like a judgement, something is wrong with me. Now, I rejoice and jump up and down…yes, please.

II. Return to Innocence

This is such a huge subject. The gist of the idea is that we truly are just boys and girls in our Father’s world. We grow up and get all serious. And with that seriousness can come; judgement, striving, competition, addictions, burnout, blowing out our brother’s (sister’s) candle so ours burns brighter. There has been several songs recently that speak of a return to Eden, the garden. (I think we have it much better than in the garden, but more on that later)I think in the sense of a return to innocence they are correct. You see as we step into the reality of the love that Father has for us, the above mentioned ideas begin to fade and what bubbles up are the fruits of His nature and character within us.

III. Intimacy

“In to me see.” Intimacy is a radical, vulnerable idea. I would argue that the zeal/ pump “living close to the edge” some of our extreme sport practitioners yearn for truly can be found in vulnerability between two people, and especially between a child and His Father. We need revelation from God in order to experience consecutiveness/ intimacy with Him. The Trinity, in eternal past, have always lived in absolute intimacy and vulnerability. We, as sons and daughters, are invited into the dance of intimacy that has always existed. We can only truly express from where we have come from in the context of union/ community.

IV. Peace and Joy from the Heart

You see, God wants you to be the ministry, not have a ministry. To that I would add, you can only give from what God has wrought in you. Our Father wants to restore, refresh and release your heart to react to its environment in the same way He does. It is an overflow of His love in you. Some of the fruit of that is Peace and Joy as you allow Him to write on the fabric of your heart with His language, His nature, and His character. He is so kind that He doesn’t leave us as we are. Paul uses a made up word to say we are a “New Creation.” Something that has never existed before. Oh my so much her to expound upon!

V. “Walking” with Your Father down the path of life.

David in Psalm 16 (and elsewhere) talks about this idea of walking down the path of life with his Father. Beloved, that is YOUR portion, to walk down the path of life with Your Father. Some of the striving, etc. I mentioned previously is unnecessary as you walk with your Father. In fact, He begins to take the weight (as you let Him), and instead of a heavy burden, His path become one of joy and pleasures forevermore. Some of you may have already jumped to the, “wait a minute, bad things still happen” side of the road. Yes, bad things still happen. I watched my daughter suffer for more than 10 years before her body could take no more. But I witnessed her spirit alive as she trusted each minute to her Father. Biblical joy is a deep contentment and settled reality as you walk with Papa.

VI. Disruptive

This may be the one that needs to come with a WARNING. You see Love is very disruptive. It won’t allow us to live in our ways, but insists on its ways. What I have found in my own life and in the lives of those around me is that this Revelation (this isn’t ascension knowledge, but rather heart revelation/ unveiling) of love not only changes so many of the motivations of our hearts, but the expressions of our heart. From the outside, the actions may seem very similar, but they are catastrophically different. As we develop this topic, you will see the the nuance which is actually a chasm of great disruption.

Really, this is just a teaser for the coming weeks of material. We lead what Fatherheart Ministries call “A Schools.” This is a one week immersion in the love of the Father with two main goals: 1. Develop a strong Biblical Foundation for the Love of the Father. 2. That each participant would be able to not only know of the love of the Father, but experience that love. See itinerary here.

The truth is this is a journey, not a destination. If you got this far, we are glad you have joined us for the journey. In the coming weeks we will explore the above topics and in the coming months we have a great deal of content to share with you, “as we go” down the path of life, with our Heavenly Father. At the end of an A school, often our instructions are simply, Rest & Receive. So in this time of some trouble, you can be of good cheer and Rest in the Love that has always existed. One of your primary objectives as a Christian (as a Human made in His image) is to Receive that love as the Source for all you do.

Heaps of Love,

Leonard & Lesley

& the Living Loved Team