Owen on the Love of the Father

Ignorance of our mercies and our privileges is our sin as well as the cause of our troubles. We do not listen to the voice of the Spirit, 'that we may know the things that are freely given to us by God'. This makes Christians sad when they might be rejoicing. It makes then weak when they could be strong. How few Christians are actually acquainted with this great privilege of having a loving fellowship with the Father.

...This free choice of the Father as to whom he would love, and that he would love them, gives life and being to his love. It also gives reason why he loves and gives value to his love (Rom. 9:11; Eph. 1:3,4; Tit. 3:5; James 1:18).

Therefore

You need to believe that God loves you, that his heart is filled with love to you and accept his word for it. You will never experience the sweetness of his love until you receive it. You must, then, continually remind yourself that God loves you and embraces you with his free eternal love. When the Lord is, by his Word, presented as a Father who loves you, then think about it and accept it. Then embrace him by faith and let your heart be filled with his love. Set your whole heart to receive his love and let your heart be bound with the cords of this love. (From Communion with God by John Owen, Abridged and Made Easy to Read by R.J.K. Law, Banner of Truth Trust, pages 27-30.)