W. Phillip Keller - What Is the Father Like?: A Devotional Look at How God Cares for His Children

What is the Father Like?

Copyright 1996

W. Phillip Keller

Ebook edition created 2012

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwisewithout the prior written permission of the publisher and copyright owners.

eISBN 978-1-4412-0822-4

Published by Bethany House Publishers

11400 Hampshire Avenue South

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55438

www.bethanyhouse.com

In Memory
of
my Dad,
who
truly, truly knew God!

W. PHILLIP KELLER, one of the premier devotional writers of our time, authored more than 40 books. Born in Kenya, he studied in Canada to be an agrologist. He was also a photographer, field naturalist, conservationist, and lay minister. Keller died in July 1997. His widow, Ursula, resides in Canada.

Absolutely tender
Infinitely true
This is God our Father
Understanding you!

Absolutely lovely
Exquisitely near
This is God our Father
Nought have we to fear!

Ancient Chorus

This is life eternal,
that they might know thee
the only true God,
and Jesus Christ,
whom thou hast sent!

Christ Jesus
John 17:3

I am the Author of all truth, all life. Before an event comes into being in your life I know it. I have authored it.

I am the eternal One, who has planned to disclose myself to you. When you seek me earnestly, when you yearn for my presence, when you long to know me as I am in realityit is because I am calling to your soul.

Yes, I call for you, and I come to you, my beloved child, because I yearn to meet you. I await your love and childlike trust. And the more you get to know me the more you will trust me.

Open your heart to me nowjust like a child. I am your Fatherand your Friendyour companion on all the pathways of your life. I am never far away. I am present with you, to preserve and enrich every moment of your life. For I hold in my hand all things that concern you. I have plannedI have authoredall the circumstances of your life.

All the circumstances that I authorize are intended to revealin the fabric of your lifethat I arrange your circumstances in order to make clear to you the vast breadth of my character. I want you to know there is nothing that can happen to you that is out of my control. In everything I invite you to draw near to me. Be very sure I am near to you. And I understand you fully!

Though some aspects of your life make you view me as distant, a stranger, I am at work to help you know me personally as Lord of your whole life. When life tempts you to runsit still!and be open in my presence. You will be stirredtouchedand yes, transformed by our encounter.

My friend, I wait for you with open arms. I call you into my family. I rejoice at the prospect of sharing all my eternal life with you. Your life will be such a joyous adventure as you learn to walk with me. Knowing that I am the author of your life brings a brand new dimension into the commonness of your days. This, in actual fact, is how you begin to experience eternal lifeas you open yourself and share in my supernatural life now.

I amreallywith you.

I ask you to remain open to mecalm and quietas I continue to reveal intimate insights into both my character and my actions toward you. As you know me better, you will better understand my ways . Knowing me will make it reasonable for you to trust my work in you completely. Knowing me will empower you to comply with my highest wish for youwhich is to transform you in peace, joy, hope, and love.

I cherish you, my child. Be of great good cheer. Draw near to me now! Do not fear, for I have only the best intentions toward you.

As you quietly contemplate my full, loving authority you will begin to see with deeper spiritual perception that all of your life has both its beginning and its end in me. From the cradle to the grave, and beyond into eternity, I care for youI hover over youI teach you the childlike faith that causes you to rest in me.

Trust in me! I am the initiatorand I am the end of all things. What happens to you today has its origin in my enduring love. Every event is meant to increase your inward rest in my powerto open you up to the flow of my everlasting life in you. I am the author and finisher of your faith.

Be stilland I will create in your soulserenity.

READ, REFLECT, AND IN FAITH RESPOND TO:

Hebrews 12:2; 13:8

John 8:58; 10:10; 17:3

Deuteronomy 7:9

Malachi 3:6

Jeremiah 29:11

I am the Eternal One. I am your everlasting Father, and I do not hide myself from you or veil my plans in mystery. There are those who think I cannot be known. But the opposite is true.

From the first I am He who has come to commune with my children. I came to show my concern, to tell you in words of truth and simple terms what I am like.

Again and again I have spoken plainly, and even audibly to plain people. All that I articulatein my Word, in your thoughts, or in wise counsel I direct to youhas one purpose: I want you to know me, and to know I am flawless. I am wholesome and utterly whole.

In a word, I am holy . When I declare my holiness, I do not mean to alarm you, or to distance you from me. Rather, my wholesome, whole, and holy character is my greatest honor, my greatest glory. Yes, my great glory is my perfect and complete nature.

This word that I have spoken to you is a verbal expression of my characterbecause it is a self-revelation of my very being, so you will know me and not fear me in the wrong way.

My nature, my conduct, and my desire to converse with you are easily seen in my words. There is no need for you to be in doubt about me, or to wonder about my amazing purposes for you. There is no need for you to be in turmoil about the good and simple design I have built into life itselfmy patternfor well-being.

I long for you to trust and rest in my Word. It is part of me, authored my me. It is shaped and arranged by me for your benefit. It is transmitted to you in truth. It conveys my Spirit and my life to you. Never shy away from my Word!

Instead, learn to immerse yourself, as in warm waters, in all the promises and statements spoken for your assurance. Though much of what men and women say is unreliable, though their words can be entangled with deception, doubt, and double-dealingnot so with me! My Word is absolutely trustworthy.

My Word is unbreakable, enduring forever because I am forever. It does not vacillate or change. For I am the same, never changing. I am always and ever the unchangeable One.

My child, all that lies beneath heaven is in upheaval and change. Nothing in creation lasts

not the mountains

not the oceans

not the stars

not the sky or planet itself.

Every human relationship changes, every organization and civilization is in flux. Everything known to the human race ends, dissolves, and is no more.

Do you see why I have come to speak with you? Do you understand why I invite you to come to me, and know me through my Word, to learn to trust and love me dearly? For I offer you life in melife eternal, in an eternal home I have created for you.