New Living Translation (NLT).

Verse 15 'You received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”'
from New King James Version (NKJV).

Italics by author; orig: [You belong to God]

Abba.. Papa.. Daddy.

Isn't it amazing? The God of the Universe, so powerful, so awesome, so holy. And you can call Him Daddy.

We are His children, His sons, His daughters.

You are literally never alone, never abandoned. We've been adopted. We've been given the Spirit of adoption. And can now call Him Abba, Papa (Rom 8:15).

When I raised the white flag, about 5 years ago, God introduced Himself to me as a Father. And I can't tell you what that meant to me. At the time I had a very difficult relationship with my (earthly) father. And I was desperately in need of a 'Dad'. Someone who 'got me'.

I was so tired, depressed, suicidal, addicted.

He healed me, saved me from all that. And what I remember the most, He was so patient with me. He loved me, hugged me. And I just couldn't stop crying..man, I cried rivers for almost two years.

I had never really learned to live. Never really learned to be happy. I had just survived all those years. Happiness was a luxury.

And like a little kid, He taught me what it was to live. To REALLY live. To belong. To be loved. To matter. To be accepted. I didn't need any crutches, like the many addictions and coping mechanisms I had. I just needed a Daddy like Him. And He gave me His Spirit. His Spirit of adoption. The Holy Spirit and He became my new best friend.

And it must've been after 1 or 2 years that He properly introduced me to Jesus. And at first I felt guilty that I spent all this time with Jesus. Wouldn't Papa get jealous? I thought, I hope He doesn't think I forgot about Him now I'm spending all this time with Jesus. It took me another year, maybe even two years before I felt harmony in my relationship with Papa, Jesus and the Spirit.

And now I'm on a new journey. I'm learning how this huggable Daddy is also the King of the Universe. 'Fear of the Lord' as the Bible calls it.

Isn't it amazing? Tell me, what other religion out there has a God like ours. I can't think of a reason why you would want to live life without Him. He's the best. He's my Daddy ❤️😊