For you did not receive the
spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption
by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with
our spirit that we are children of God.
Romans 8:15–16
I love it when I’m in
Israel and I hear little children running around in playgrounds, calling out,
“Abba! Abba!” and jumping into their daddies’ embraces. To the Jews, Abba is
the most intimate way in which you can address your father. It’s a beautiful picture
of the truth that through Jesus, you have received the Spirit of sonship by
whom you cry out “Abba, Father.” Did you notice that the Holy Spirit refused to
translate the original Aramaic word “Abba” into English?
In Abba’s arms, a child is
most secure, protected, and loved. No enemy can pull a child out of his or her
Abba’s strong arms. That’s the image God wants us to have when we pray to Him
and call Him “Abba.” Of course, you can call Him “Daddy” or “Papa,” or whatever
term helps you to see God as a warm, loving, and caring Father.
Unless you can see Him as
your Abba Father, you will continue to have a “spirit of bondage again to fear”
(Rom. 8:15), referring to the Old Testament fear of God. It’s a slavish fear of
judgment and punishment that brings you into bondage and makes you afraid of
God. But God doesn’t want you to fear Him. He wants you to have a Spirit of
sonship! Too many believers are living with an orphan, fatherless spirit. If
you are entangled with all kinds of fears, guilt, and worries today, what you
need is a good heavenly dose of the Father’s love for you!
Something amazing happens
in your spirit when you see God as your Father. If my daughter, Jessica, has a
nightmare, all she has to do is cry out, “Daddy!” and Daddy is there! Jessica
doesn’t have to go, “O Father that liveth and inhabiteth the next room, I plead
with thee to come to me at this time of peril, that thou mayest rescue me from
this nightmare!” All she has to do is to cry out, “Daddy!” and I’m there.
Similarly, in your moments
of weakness you don’t have to approach God with perfect prayers. You just cry
out, “Daddy!” and your heavenly Father runs to you! You are not coming before a
judge. You are coming before your Father, your Daddy God, who embraces and
loves you just the way you are.
Take time to come to your Abba Father today. Believe that He loves you unconditionally today. See Him welcoming you with a smile on His face and with outstretched arms. Run into His embrace, bask in His perfect love for you, and let it melt away every worry, fear, and insecurity. When you believe and receive your Father’s love for you, it will put unshakable peace and strength in your heart! ((Article & Picture; courtesy of Joseph Prince Ministries used with kind permission).
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