What It Means to Call God Abba | A Deeper Relationship with the Father

I sit down, pen in hand, ready to pray. Every morning I journal my prayers and they usually begin with, Good Morning Lord. But today the Lord told me to do something different. As I began to write, I heard Him say, “Call me Abba.”

At first, I didn’t think much of it. My heart was touched that He spoke to me, but as I dwelled on His words a little longer, I realized something. Abba has a much deeper meaning than just a way to address God. The fact that He asked me to call Him Abba spoke volumes about our relationship. In that moment, He didn’t just change a word. He changed intimacy levels. And today, He is inviting you to call Him Abba too.

What does it mean to call God Abba? We all know that Abba means Father, and most of us often refer to God as Father. But why is calling Him Abba different? Father is a title we use to address a paternal parent. God is indeed our Father and we are His children. But that simply isn’t the whole picture of our relationship.

The word Abba is intimate. It is tender. It signifies honor, love, and deep trust. You can call any man who has a child a father, but you would never call someone who is not your father Abba. Abba is personal. Abba is yours. Calling Him Abba is owning the relationship you have with Him. It is saying, “I am yours, and you are mine.”

You are not just the one who gave me life. You are the one I honor and trust. You are the one worthy of my worship. You are the one who leads me and teaches me. You are the one who loves me unconditionally. I want to be like you. I want to learn from you. I want to walk in your ways. I want to make you proud. I want to call you Abba.

Is He calling you to a deeper place of intimacy with Him today? Is He asking you to move from calling Him Father to letting Him be Abba in your life? If that is you, and it is me too, let’s pray together.

My Abba,

I love you with everything in me. You are my Abba. You are my intimate Father. You are calling me to a deeper place with you and I surrender to your way. Lead me, teach me, grow me. I want to be like you. Be with everyone reading this today and reveal yourself to them in a greater way.

In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

If this blessed you, share it with someone who needs to hear it today. Let’s spread the love of God together.

The Dwelling Place Bundle is a digital devotional resource created to help you linger in God’s presence every day. Click the image to find out more.