For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” Romans 8:15
It took me a long time to embrace God the Father into my life. Sure, Jesus, sure, the Holy Spirit, but Father…this I hesitated. I didn’t even know I was hesitating. I was completely unaware of my “daddy wound”. It wasn’t truly until my mid 20’s when I had experienced yet another personal breakdown that asking God to renew me led my spirit to embrace being a new creation in Christ as a child of God and thus God the Father, my Abba.
All along I had been one of those people whom the famous evangelical preacher, Chip Ingram, describes as being someone who “came to the waters of God’s love but said no, this isn’t for me; it’s for everyone else, but just not for me.” Satan had blinded me from full adoption into the Body of Christ. And therefore, even receiving the Sacraments meant my spiritual life had been stunted. No amount of grace this way could elevate my soul towards holiness, they were futile attempts, I was getting nowhere even though I was trying.
Mercy is God the Father ever nourishing, ever renewing, ever energizing the spirit. Abba, this moment Yours is the glory, mine is the assurance of that glory with me through Your divine grace.