Mark 14:36: Abba, Father, for you all things are possible.
Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.

Abba is the most intimate name Jesus calls God, and he prays this prayer in Gethsemane right before he is publicly betrayed by Judas. Jesus is saying, with a special nickname and with an honest heart, Dad, I don’t like this story. I don’t like this assignment. But I know you know better, so… as you will.

I have a good friend, Nathan, whom I’ve heard pray in groups and at dinners for the last 8 years. He always, every single time, starts his prayers with ABBA God. As this was Jesus’ special nickname for an almighty God, I appreciate that my friend has never been afraid of showing the world his relationship with God. He keeps God close, and it shows. It shows in his marriage, in his relationship with his son, in the way he treats people with respect and tact—all the time. It’s tough to rile this guy, and not because he doesn’t care. Rather, it’s because he is so in tune with God, the relationship can’t help but overflow into everything else he says and does.

Basically: I want to be like Nathan when I grow up.

I want my relationship with God to be so tight that it can’t help but color everything else in my life. I want my relationship with God to be so wound through my heart and mind that my actions flow through that as their first filter. I want my relationships to reflect a strong relationship with God. I want the Fruits of the Spirit to be who I am, not just who I try to be.

That can really only happen if I do a few things (and strangely they mirror what we do to foster strong relationships with people on earth whom we care about…):
1. Give up control.
2. Acknowledge who actually has control.
3. Work on the relationship with communication and time together.

Intimacy with God is within our grasp, if only we would spend the time and energy to pursue it.

Today, may you know deep, deep down that you are loved and cherished by an Abba Father who wants just your heart; not your deeds, not your performance, not your achievements, not anything but your heart, full or broken, that’s what He wants.

How about you? Email me & tell me how easy or hard it is for you to accept Abba Father’s full and deep love for you.

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