10 Reasons to Celebrate God as Abba Father

I first met God as Father at sixteen. Since that day, the Lord Almighty is my Abba Father. 

And the Bible confirms this happens when we accept Christ as Savior, God’s gift of salvation.

“…God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ‘Abba Father!’” Galatians 4:6b (NIV)

This meant everything to me then and now. Because my earthly-father story includes chapters of abandonment, a longing to know my biological father and dreams to be loved by a father.

And there’s a redemptive ending that still amazes me.

You see, every Father’s Day I celebrate three fathers. 

First, during my dad’s absence, a wonderful stepfather came into my life as a young girl.

Wendell loved and cared for me like his own flesh and blood. Since fatherhood runs much deeper than bloodline, he’s an amazing dad to this day.

Next, my biological father came back into my life in elementary school. And we slowly rebuilt a father-child relationship again. But he was an atheist. So as soon as I became a child of God, I started praying for my dad. Sixteen years and over 5000 prayers later, my biological father became a child of the heavenly Father, too.

Dad passed away in 2010. And I’m always a little tear-filled this time of year. I really miss him.

Yet, as we honor fathers this month, I also want to celebrate God as my Father. 

Regardless of our earthly-father experience, God as Father, rises above any father definitions we write into our stories. He is Abba Father. Here are 10 of my favorite fatherly attributes of God. 

Regardless of our earthly-father experience, God as Father, rises above any father definitions we write into our stories. He is Abba Father. #FathersDay Share on X

Abba Father Loves

(1) He adopted me.

“God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.” Ephesians 1:5 (NLT)

(2) He loves me.

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” 1 John 3:1a (ESV)

God the Father Forgives

(3) He forgives me.

“As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12 (ESV)

(4) He fills me when I’m empty.

He fills us with: joy and peace (Romans 15:13), His fullness as God (Ephesians 3:19), the knowledge of His will (Colossians 1:9), the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18), Jesus as the bread of life and living waters (John 6:35; 4:14).

(5) He stays near.

“For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is to us, whenever we call upon him?” Deuteronomy 4:7 (ESV)

God as Father forgives me. "As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." Psalm 103:12 (ESV) Share on X

Abba Father Provides

(6) He provides.

“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” Matthew 7:11 (ESV)

(7) He keeps His promises.

“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations.” Deuteronomy 7:9 (ESV)

Speaking of Abraham, “No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.” Romans 4:20-21 (ESV)

(8) He fulfills His purpose for me.

“I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.” Psalm 57:2 (ESV)

Abba Father’s Faithful

(9) He always has my best interest in mind.

“Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you.” Psalm 139:16-19 (ESV)

God's a faithful Father who always keeps His promises, has my best interest in mind, and fulfills His purpose in my life. Share on X

(10) He’s faithful.

“God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:9 (ESV)

Father Story

Read more of my father-story, A Father Who Never Leaves.

What are your favorite characteristics of God as Father? Do you have an Abba Father story? I pray you know God as Father.

Sometimes I participate in these link-ups:

Legacy Linkup/Inspire Me Monday/Tell His Story/Recharge Wednesday/Let’s Have Coffee/Tune in Thursday/Embracing the Unexpected (Grace & Truth).

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© 2023 by Karen Friday, All rights reserved