3 Day Bible Reading Plan - “Encountering God as Your Father”
The Father is more of a father than you imagine, and you are more of a son than you realize. The God of the universe defines His relationship to us as that of a Father and a child. He is rightly described as a Judge, King, Creator, and Warrior, yet in the teaching of Jesus, His primary description is that He is our Father. He loves us and cares for us. We are precious to Him. He delights in us. We are rightly described as His creatures, servants, and subjects, yet in the teaching of Jesus, our primary description is that we are His sons and daughters. - Pastor Paul Crandell, 1/25/26
Day 1
Featured Verse: Matthew 7:7–11
When you consider the invitations to ask, seek, and knock, what does this reveal to you about how actively God desires you to approach Him in prayer, rather than remaining passive?
How does Jesus' comparison to earthly fathers, who give good gifts despite their imperfections, shape the way you view God's heart toward you as a perfect heavenly Father who gives "good things" to those who ask Him?
What fears, doubts, or misconceptions about God might be keeping you from boldly asking, diligently seeking, or persistently knocking right now, and how does Jesus' portrayal of the Father's generosity invite you to respond differently?
Today’s Prayer: Heavenly Father, I know You are good, and as my good Father, you will give me good gifts. I ask for the faith to believe Your goodness to me. Increase my trust in Your generous heart so I come to You boldly, expecting Your kindness far beyond what I can imagine. Amen.
“Our Lord argues from the less to the greater. If even evil men, who are but poor, fallen, imperfect creatures, yet know how to give good gifts to their children, how much more shall the infinitely good God give good things—nay, the best things, the choicest of all gifts—to those who seek them at his hands? ...He does not tantalize his children by refusing them what is good for them; he delights to give, and he gives with a royal hand.” - Charles Spurgeon
Day 2
Featured Verse: Romans 8:15–17
When you cry out “Abba! Father!” in your heart, what does that intimate, childlike word reveal to you about the kind of closeness and security God wants you to experience with Him?
When you reflect on being a co-heir with Christ, how does the reality that your Father has destined you to share in His Son’s glory change the way you view your worth, your struggles, and your eternal future?
If God has gone so far as to adopt you into His family and give you the Spirit who cries “Abba!” within you, what fears, doubts, or old patterns might you need to lay down today in order to live more fully as His cherished child and heir?
Today’s Prayer: Abba, Father, thank You for sending Your Spirit into my heart, adopting me as Your own beloved child and freeing me from fear and slavery. Help me live today in the full assurance of Your fatherly love, crying out to You with confidence and resting in the hope of sharing as co-heir with Christ. Amen.
“You will notice, as you pass along through this eighth chapter of Romans, how Paul brings out the thought of adoption, sonship and heirship. If I am adopted, I am no longer a slave, but a son. I can look up into the face of God and say, 'Abba, Father.' That little word 'Abba' is very precious. It is the word that a little child uses when it wants to get into its father's arms. It is the word of endearment, of confidence, of love. ...I want to say very emphatically that I have no sympathy with the doctrine that makes God the Father of all men in the same sense. ...But to the believer, He is our Father by adoption. We are brought into the family, and we can look up and say, 'Abba, Father.' That is the privilege of every child of God—not fear, but adoption and crying out to Him as Father. The spirit of bondage makes a man afraid of God; the Spirit of adoption makes him love God and trust Him. Fear hath torment, but perfect love casteth out fear.” - D.L. Moody
Day 3
Featured Verse: 1 John 3:1
How does the astonishing truth that God has bestowed such love on you that you are genuinely called and made His child affect your sense of worth, belonging, and security when doubts or feelings of unworthiness arise?
In what ways have you noticed the world's misunderstanding or rejection of you mirroring its rejection of Christ, and how does knowing you are truly a child of God give you comfort or courage in those experiences?
If the world does not know or recognize you because it did not know the Father, what practical implications does this have for how you live out your identity as His child, perhaps in relationships, choices, or witness?
Today’s Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for adopting me into Your family with such extravagant, undeserved love. Help me rest in this identity today, living as Your beloved child with wonder, gratitude, and bold confidence in Your fatherly heart. Amen.
“This love is such as the world never saw the like; it is love that stoops to the lowest, that takes enemies and makes them children, that bestows upon rebels the highest dignity. What manner of love is this, that God should not only pardon, but adopt; not only forgive, but make heirs! It is love infinite, love condescending, love triumphant over sin and unworthiness.” - Thomas Goodwin
“Here is the wonder of wonders: that the great and glorious God, infinite in majesty, should bestow such love upon poor creatures as to call them His sons—not in a metaphorical sense, but really and truly, by regeneration and adoption. This love is not common; it is of a singular kind, a love that passeth knowledge, that elevates us to the highest relation. We are sons, and that is our present privilege; the world may scorn us as base, but God owns us as His children.” - Thomas Manton