~ My Abba ~

[Lani]

Read: Read Romans 8: 12-17 http://www.christianityoasis.com/bible/ ... ld_lookup=

"God sent his Son... so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" Galatians 4:4-6 (NRSV)



My father died in 1979 from cancer. He had served as a police officer with the government of Karnataka in South India. We called him "Appa," which means "father" in Kannada, our local language. As was the custom during that time, daughters could not have open relationships or conversations with their fathers. Though we respected and honored our parents, we expressed our love to them only by obedience, never in words.

Only after his death did I realize how much I missed him. I long to hold him and express love and gratitude I could not express when he was living. Every day I think about him and thank God for giving him to me to be my father.

Whenever I read Romans 8:15, I rejoice in the everlasting love and concern of God and reflect on the kindness and mercy God shows in taking away our fear and calling us "children of God."

We can also show our gratitude for this amazing love by reaching out to others to share the love of God with them.



Prayer: O God, we thank you for calling us your children. Help us to love you as you have loved us. Amen

Prayer Focus of Day: Someone who longs to know a father's love.

Thought for the Day: All of us have a loving "Abba" in heaven

Story shared by: M. Joyce (India)
Source: Upper Room Daily Devotional 6/19/11