God, the Father

Me: Good morning, Lord. This weekend, I spoke about how I had coveted other peoples' relationships with You. I am sorry, Lord. I am so thankful for this intimacy that we have now.

God: I told you, talking with you is the best part of My day.

Patrick, do you know Me as Father?

Me: That is a strange question, but I think I have to say I only know the concept of Father.

God: Do you want to know Me as Father?

Me: Yes, of course I do. How do I relate to You right now?

God: You call Me "Lord," and do so while picturing Jesus. This is good. It is right. But, I am more than a king. You can have intimacy with a king as a good servant. But the intimacy between a Father and son is deeper and different.

Me: Yes, Father. I want the deeper intimacy. Show me that part of You. How do I approach you, then?

God: As a son. How does a son approach his father? He approaches with confident joy in the love he knows his flows from his father, and he knows that the thoughts of the father are inherently benevolent and beneficial to the son. Revisit the idea that we had about dressing in your father's clothes.

Me: What should I do with it?

God: Why not write something for fathers to read to their sons?

Me: What an idea! Thank you, Lord.

What are You like as my Father?

God: I am proud. I am proud of My children, and I love to show them off. I love to shower them with blessings and honor them at My table. I love to teach them goodness and righteousness, and I love it when they try to be like Me, even when they fail. My children are My prize possession.

Me: How can I relate to You as my Father?

God: Start with the only way you know how. Call Me "Father," and I will answer from the heart of a father. Call Me "Lord," and I will be your King. Call me "Friend," and I will be closer than a brother. It is good to know Me in all these ways and more. But now is a time for you to spend getting to know Me as My son.