Encouragement, Love
Do you know Him as Abba Father?
Galatians 4:6 NLT
And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba Father.”
This verse makes me want to squeal in my loudest voice, YES!
I promise I won’t squeal!
And if you’ve heard me talk, you know I have a loud voice.
There are just some things that can NOT be conveyed in a quiet voice. The joy that fills my heart when I read this verse is one of those things!
This verse calls for a celebration!
Because we are His children we can know God by an affectionate enduring title, Daddy or Papa, like a dearly loved child, because that is who we are. If you didn’t have a good daddy I am so sorry. I pray that God will heal that place in your heart and release you to enjoy the love of your heavenly “Abba, Father.”
It changes how we pray when we know Him as Abba, Father. I don’t know how you see yourself running into God’s Presence, but I see myself as a curly-headed, little girl, skipping into His throne room, running to throw my arms around His neck and kiss His cheeks.
No, not out of disrespect, but out of a heart overflowing with love, joy and gratitude.
We can come boldly into His Presence to present our request and enjoy His presence because He is Daddy. I have to say that again.
We can and should come boldly, confidently, joyfully into His Presence.
The heart of every believer walking in relationship with God cries out “Abba, Father!”
Abba is only used 3 times in the New Testament and it is always combined with Father…Abba, Father. Could it be that the word Father is not just one more way to identify us as His child, but that it is used strategically and purposely here in Scripture? Could it be that this combination is critical in understanding Who He is as our Father?
We need to know Him as Abba!
We need to relax in His presence and experience the joy of His love. Yet, we also need to turn the coin over to see the other side so we can experience the joy of our Father. He is a good, good Father. A Father that genuinely and thoroughly knows best, because He is Truth, because His vision is not limited by time or lies or opinions. He knows it all! He Knows what is best for the world…and yet He narrows His focus to you…He knows what is best for you.
Mark 14:36 NLT
Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane “Abba, Father,” he cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
Jesus trusted His Father, even when it was costly. Jesus absolutely KNEW that everything is possible for His Father. He knew it, but He was obedient. Jesus submitted His desire to God’s Will.
Philippians 2: 8 But emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
Father knows what is right. God is the final authority. He decides what is moral and just.
He loves you too much NOT to correct you when you are walking in error or rebellion against Him.
Father wants to conform you to His image, so you can reflect His Glory in your life.
That cannot happen until we humble our hearts, submit to the authority of Father and obey.
