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 (Rom. 8:15-16).

Long ago I read the account of a Christian who did not fully grasp the meaning of this verse until visiting a busy market in Israel. There a lost child ran through the crowd seeking his father by crying out, “Abba, Abba.”

The ancient endearment for “Daddy” is as used today as it was in Christ’s day, and it signals the same kind of love. When our hearts cry out with such longing and love for our Heavenly Father, it not only signals our affection but the work of the Holy Spirit in us.

Our love and longing for God is the evidence that he has gone before us in life with the work of the Holy Spirit, transforming our affections. Our seeking him is the Spirit’s witness that we are already the children of his care and that he is ready to receive us.

God not only provides his Holy Spirit to align the desires of our thoughts and prayers with his purposes, but also to confirm his love by our longing. We can only love him because he first loved us. Loving him confirms his love for us.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, confirm that I am a child of yours by the love that I have for you as my Abba. May this love granted me by the Holy Spirit be a powerful witness that I am your child whom your heart is always ready to receive.