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Listening to the Spirit’s Voice More Carefully Than to Others

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!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. Rom. 8:15-17 (ESV)

Heavenly Father, it’s an incomparable privilege to be your adopted children, and call you “Abba, Father.” We were slaves to sin and death, and selfishness and fear when you rescued and redeemed us. And now, as this Scripture attests, the Holy Spirit is constantly telling us how much you love us and delight in us. We believe this is true; help us believe it even more.

Indeed, Father, turn up the volume of the Spirit’s voice—all up the way to 11! So many other voices clamor for our attention. There’s the voice of Satan, who condemns us for sins you’ve forgiven and brokenness you’re healing.

There’s the voice of our vain regrets, haunting us about our past failures, and hounding us about missed opportunities. The voice of our worries and anxieties blast us with “what if’s” and “if only’s. And the voice of our selfishness, is unrelenting—telling us we deserve better and more.

But then, there’s your blessed voice, Father. By the Spirit we hear you say, “I have loved you with an everlasting love and with cords of kindness I have bound you to my heart. I’ve robed you with Jesus’ righteousness, and have sealed you with my Spirit. Nothing will separate you from my love. I’m with you now and for you forever. Your past is forgiven; your present is in my hands; and your future is beyond all you could ask or imagine. Trust me.”

Abba, Father, thank you for loving us—not as we will be, or ought to be, but as we actually are in this very moment. Keep telling us it’s so. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ glorious and grace-full name.

 

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