From Panic to Praise: A 5-Day Devotional From the PsalmsSample

Praise God for Being Your Abba, Father

I don’t know what your father was like. He might have been loving and kind or he might have been harsh and abusive. The psalmist writes that God is a compassionate father. He doesn’t scold you and punish you for your anxiety. He looks at you with compassion. He understands the places of your heart that quake in fear and wrestle with worry. 

That may be very different from the kind of father you grew up with. Jesus once asked His disciples, “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?” (Matthew 7:9). The stone could represent emotional coldness and the snake, abuse. Some of us grew up with fathers who were emotionally cold and abusive. That often leaves a person with an underlying anxiety. 

Here’s the thing, God is a completely different father!—Jesus called Him Abba (Mark 14:36), which is the most tender name children used for their fathers. Rather than rebuking you, He invites you to worship Him. Why? Is God some narcissistic insecure being who needs constant affirmation? No. He invites us to worship Him because He knows we become like what we worship (Psalm 115:8). The more you worship and praise God, the more the Holy Spirit transforms you into His likeness. Fear turns into courage, doubt turns into faith, anxiety turns into calm, and worry turns into worship. It’s a win, win.

Selah – Pause and Reflect: What was your father like? How has that impacted your view of God? How might praising God as your compassionate, loving Father bring healing to your soul?

Pray

Father God, how I praise You that You are a tenderhearted, compassionate, loving Father. I praise You that I don’t have to feel fearful in Your presence. You call me to respect and worship You, trusting that Your every intention towards me is good. Thank You that as I pour out my soul before You and then begin to shift my focus to praise, You will envelope me in your presence and calm my fears. I praise You that I can call You Abba Father!

We hope you have enjoyed this 7-Day devotional from Becky Harling. To read the full book Psalms for the Anxious Heart, visit moodypublishers.com.