September 18

Isaiah 28:14-30:11, Galatians 3:23-4:31, Psalm 62:1-12, Proverbs 23:19-21 

Pray: Begin with the great privilege, which is evidence of the Spirit of God alive in your heart, of crying out “Abba Father.” Thank God that He has adopted you as His child and has made you an heir.

Read: Consider all the ways the Father protects His children and provides for His children as you read. The Lord even addresses rebellious and wayward children in Isaiah with a firm warning but yet a tender call to return to Him in faith. 

Edify: Jesus has turned our distant but respectful “Yes sir” into a passionate and intimate “Abba, Father.” “Abba” is one of the few Aramaic words kept in the Scriptures, which means it is treasured. The Holy Spirit gave it as a gift transcending the hundreds of languages the Scriptures are not found in. It is the very cry from Jesus’ lips in prayer when He prayed to His Father. It is indicative of the relationship with God that Jesus has invited us into. Paul says the law was a needed guardian, but now we have been set free into a personal, covenantal relationship with God.

Practice: Answer the question: “How is calling God, Abba, good news to my life today?” In what ways do you need to accept the forgiveness of God when under the weight of guilt and shame? In what ways do you need to accept the peace of God in the face of fear ruling your life? In what ways do you need to trust God and do the difficult work of giving, serving, and reconciling, knowing that Abba is watching over you? Knowing God as Abba has broken us free from slavery and given us an inheritance that will never spoil or fade. The Fatherhood of God should impact your life and spirit today.