Let’s take a look at one of my favorite words in the Bible. It’s an Aramaic word and for whatever reason it was not translated in the Bible to its English meaning, but simply transliterated. It’s the word ‘abba’. It occurs three times in the Bible. Let’s take a look at its use in Romans 8:15 (Amplified).

For [the Spirit which] you have now received [is] not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing sonship] in [the bliss of] which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father!

So why the use of this word ‘abba’ which means father right before the Greek word for father? I had an idea due to previous teachings on this, but to make it official I turned to my trusty Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. I also looked it up in the not so trusty Wikipedia (I hear teachers won’t accept papers that reference Wikipedia 🙂 ). So here is what I learned about this word ‘abba’.

Abba is the word formed by the lips of infants, and betokens unreasoning trust; “father” expresses an intelligent apprehension of the relationship. The two together express the love and intelligent confidence of the child. (Vine’s)

It was the intimate name used by children for their fathers and combines some of the intimacy of the English word “papa” while retaining the dignity of the word “father,” being both informal and yet respectful. It was, therefore, an endearing form of address rather than a title and was among the first words a child learned to speak. (Wikipedia.org)

Jesus uttered this word in the Garden of Gethsemane. As He faced the most difficult situation of His life, as He agonized over what He knew was to become of Him on that cross, He cried Abba, Father.

And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, Abba, Father…

In the midst of the most trying time of His life, Jesus called on God not just as His heavenly Father, but as His “Papa”, His “Daddy”.

Many people believe I am very naive. They think that I don’t live in reality. I’m not afraid of anything. I don’t worry about anything. (At least not for more than a moment). Why? Because My Father, My Daddy loves me. And I trust Him.

I remember a time when my husband and I had just bought a house. We began to be stretched financially. We wondered if we made a mistake. We wondered if we should stay in this home or sell it. One day I was talking to My Heavenly Daddy about this and I asked Him what we should do. He spoke these words in my heart, “I will keep you in this house.”

All the fear and worry and questions drained out of my heart. I ran and told my husband. He said, “What does that mean?” I responded with, “I don’t know other than I know He will keep us in this house.” Over the next few years with changes in the appraisals and tax rate in our city, our house payment went down every year, until our house payment was lower in this home, than in our previous home which was much smaller. My Daddy kept us in this house. We were no longer stretched financially and we got to stay in our home.

My Daddy loves me. I say this all the time. I believe this all the time. When I look in His word and see His promises, I believe them. Why? Because Daddy said so and He is faithful to do what He said.