Abba’s Child

              I was thinking about Father’s Day and wanted to share the following article by Bill Gaultiere, PHD, with you:

Especially around Father’s Day each year I am thankful for my dad and my three kids.  I also remember “the Father from whom all fatherhood derives it’s name” (Ephesians 3:15).  To appreciate God as your Father everyday is something we (you) can learn to do—even if your relationship with your father was painful for you.

A favorite topic I like to share in retreats and seminars is “Embracing Abba.”  “Abba” is Hebrew for Papa and it’s  one of the first words that a little Hebrew boy or girl says.  It’s a wonderful, affectionate name of God and I love to use it in my prayers.  To know that the Almighty God is our dear Papa is such a blessing!

On a recent “Embracing Abba” retreat I led I guided everyone in a time of healing prayer, using Mark 10:13-16 which tells the story of Jesus receiving little children into his arms to bless them.  Jesus not only loved these little ones he fought for them, rebuking his disciples who tried to shoo them away because Jesus was busy.

The Gospels record a number of instances in which Jesus picked up children and held them, affirmed them, or blessed them in some way.  Have you ever put yourself in one of these stories?  This is one of the most important things you can do.

The Child In You Longs for Abba’s Love 

  You may have lost touch with it, but you have a child part of you inside.  There’s a little and vulnerable part of you that longs for your Heavenly Father to lift you up in his arms with joy!

Have you brought this child in you to Jesus and his Abba? Does your heart cry out to God with affection and delight, “Abba! Papa!?  We see in the Bible that Jesus prayed to Abba (Mark 14:36) and so did Paul (Romans 8:15, Galatians 4:6).

There’s a void in you and in me that only Abba can fill.  But we cling to people.  We try to impress people.  We rush around and strive to succeed.  We worry.  We accumulate more and more stuff. We seek new experiences.  We escape into entertainments or alcohol.  We hold onto old wounds.

O, my friends, Jesus shows us the Abba Father love of God that we yearn for!  Nothing else will fill the void in you and in me.  The Bible is full of affirmations of just how much “The Father God Loves You.”

In Christ,

Mack