Words of Worship: Father

father (noun) - a male parent; any male ancestor, especially the founder of a family or line; to be the creator, founder, or author of

Synonyms: ancestor, begetter, dad, forbearer, origin, parent, sire

Antonyms: descendant, effect, result

With God being the Almighty and original Father, it certainly tracks that the term "father" crops up regularly in worship music. God the Father (and the Son and the Holy Spirit of course, but I'm trying to stay on theme here) is the ultimate example of how a godly parent should love and protect their children. For those out there who have gone most of their lives without a consistent father figure, these ideas and traits of this part of God's personality may feel strange at first, almost alien, but ultimately we can all take comfort in knowing we have a Father who loved us so much that He sent His Son to die for us so that we could join His family, too.

This week, we'll be looking at seven songs about God the Father along with Scripture references that I was led to with each entry. All Scripture passages are from the New Living Translation of the Holy Bible.

Lean Back by Capital City Music ft. Dion Davis (written by T. Brown, C. McClarney, N. Moore, A. Cook)

Featured on Capital City's 2018 live album Kingdom Come with vocals from worship leader Dion Davis, this beautiful worship song reminds us of The Father's love, goodness, and constant presence in our lives. Once we accept Him into our hearts, rest assured He's there for good.

You will never leave, Your love sustaining me/Before I even knew what love was/You’ve brought me here to rest and given me space to breathe/So I’ll stay until it sinks in/I will lean back in the loving arms/Of a beautiful Father/Breathe deep and know that He is good/He’s a love like no other

Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.

Great Is Thy Faithfulness by Chris Rice (written by W. Runyan, T. Chisholm, E. Schrotenboer)

Featured on Rice's 2006 album Peace Like a River: The Hymns Project, this classic hymn is one of my favorites. I love the lullaby-esque feel Rice gave to the hymns on this album and the sense of calm that rushes over me as I listen to the truth of the Father's never ending faithfulness.

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father/There is no shadow of turning with Thee/Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not/As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be/Great is Thy faithfulness, great is Thy faithfulness/Morning by morning new mercies I see/All I have needed Thy hand hath provided/Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me

Lamentations 3:23 Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.

How He Loves by David Crowder Band (written by J. McMillan)

Featured on Crowder's 2013 compilation album All This for a King: The Essential Collection, this has been my preferred version of this song since the beginning of the age old Sloppy Wet vs Unforseen debate (if you know, you know). This worship song has become such a classic with the truth it speaks of our Father's glory, love, beauty, and mercy.

And He is jealous for me/Love's like a hurricane, I am a tree/Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy/When all of a sudden/I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory/And I realize just how beautiful You are/And how great Your affections are for me/And, oh, how He loves us, oh/Oh, how He loves us/How He loves us, oh

John 3:16 For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Living Water by Gateway Worship Voices ft. Lauren Dunn (written by S. Neese, Z. Neese)

Featured on Gateway's 2016 album Gateway Worship Voices with vocals by worship leader Lauren Dunn, this song does a great job showing that our God is a receptive Father. If we make a request to Him in faith, He will give us an answer in His timing that will work out for the good of His Kingdom.

Water of life, what if I said I was thirsty/Bread of life, what if I said I was hungry/Would You pour Your Spirit on me, Lord/Oh, would Your glory fall like waters, fill the sea/Living water cover me, flood my heart with every single beat/All You are is all I’ll ever need/And I love You, I love You/How we love You, how we love You

Proverbs 3:11-12 My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline, and don’t be upset when he corrects you. For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.

To You by Maverick City Music ft. Chandler Moore & Maryanne J. George (written by D. Bowe, D. Flowers, M. George)

Featured on Maverick City's 2020 live album Maverick City Music, Vol. 3: Pt. 2 with vocals from worship leaders Chandler Moore and Maryanne J. George, the lyrics of this song pull from the Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15. If we walk away from the path He lays out for us but then decide to come back to Him, He will be right there waiting for us, and like the father in the story, He will run as fast as He can to meet us and welcome us back home.

Beneath the surface/And what my eyes have seen/Past the temporary/I hear you beckon, yeah/To fall a little deeper/Further than I’ve ever known/I’m breaking through the boxes/I’m running to Your throne/I’m coming back to You/I’m coming back to You/I’m coming back to You/I’m coming back to You

Psalm 71:17-18 O God, you have taught me from my earliest childhood, and I constantly tell others about the wonderful things you do. Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all who come after me.

Real Thing by Maverick City Music ft. Dante Bowe (written by B. Lake, B. Brown, D. Bowe)

Featured on Maverick City's 2019 live album Maverick City, Vol. 1 with vocals by worship leader Dante Bowe, the lyrics of this song are from the perspective of the Father speaking to us as His children. It's a reminder to lean on Him for strength and mercy, because He's 100% the real deal.

Baby steps, my child/To you it may be nothing, but you make Daddy proud/Your weakness is only My strength/I know you’ve got your questions, but I’m closer than you think, I promise/Oh, I won’t let go, I won’t let go/I see you right where you are, I’m holding on to your heart/Oh, I won’t let go, Oh, I won’t let go/I see you right where you are, I’m holding on to your heart

Colossians 2:17 For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is the reality.

You're Welcome in This Place by Maverick City Music ft. Naomi Raine & Chandler Moore (written by C. Moore, N. Raine)

Also from Maverick City, Vol. 1 with vocals by worship leaders Naomi Raine and Chandler Moore, this song of praise is an invitation and declaration for God to make His home in our hearts. We are a part of His family and invite Him to share our "home" (our heart) with us fully.

You’re the King, this is Your kingdom/Jesus, come/You’re the Father, this is Your home/Father, come/If home is where the heart is/Come and dwell, come and dwell/I will open up to You/You’re welcome in this place, You’re welcome in this place/Come and have Your way in us, You’re welcome/You’re welcome in this place, You’re welcome in this place/Come and have Your way in us, You’re welcome

Titus 3:5 …he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.

I hope and pray that you found some music that speaks to your heart from this post. Happy listening, and see ya'll next week!