What do you call your father? Pop, Papa, Father, Dah, Dada, Dad, Daddy? When mine was alive I usually called him Dad. His given name was Peter, though most called him Pete. Most of us have nick names, terms of endearment we use with friends and family.
When I write about God I sometimes call him Father or Heavenly Father, at least for me, those are more formal titles. In the Christian faith, we dare to call God Father because He sent his only son to live life on earth. He lived a perfect life. That qualified Jesus to die in our place so we can have access to the Holy God. In John 10:30 Jesus said, “I and the Father are one.”
I also call God “Abba.” In the Aramaic Greek of Jesus’ day, Abba was what a child beginning to talk called their father instead of our Dada or Daddy.
There is an intimacy with God available as a disciple of Jesus Christ that no other “religion” offers. The death and resurrection of Jesus opened a way for us to talk with our Creator like a young child in the protective arms of their Daddy. I like to use the name Abba. My Dad was a great guy. I miss him. But Dad is my name for him, and I have a different relationship with my Creator God. For me, Calling Him Abba is a term of endearment that is less formal and perhaps even more intimate.
Yes, my Abba is The Creator of every thing. And Yes, there are times to call Him Father. And yet for me, there are times when I am a little more relaxed when I talk with my Abba. Thanks to the Holy Spirit, my Abba lives in me. I never have to wonder if He hears me when I talk with Him.
How do you talk to and about your earthly father? How do you address God? Are you afraid to approach Him in a familiar way, like using Abba or something else? That’s Ok. When you have a few moments, please take some time to ask God about how you can learn to feel safe with and grow deeper in a relationship with Him.
Abba, Thank you that you know exactly where I am, emotionally, physically and spiritually. You know my full history. You know me better than I know myself. And you know where you want me to go and what you want me to do. I choose to trust you more each day. I give you permission to draw me closer to you so I can know you better and trust you more. Give me eyes to see and ears to hear you working in and around me, and the grace and strength to cooperate with what you are doing in and through me… Thank you for hearing!
