Several verses reached out and grabbed me by the scruff of the neck this morning. (That works whether I am a cat or a dog… 
) Like a lot of people, I have a very hard time relating to the concept of God as a father, because my relationship with my earthly father is so lacking.
Rom 8:15 For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption by which we cry, Abba, Father!
Received
λαμβάνω
lambanō
lam-ban’-o
A prolonged form of a primary verb, which is used only as an alternate in certain tenses; to take (in very many applications, literally and figuratively [probably objective or active, to get hold of; whereas G1209 is rather subjective or passive, to have offered to one; while G138 is more violent, to seize or remove]): – accept, + be amazed, assay, attain, bring, X when I call, catch, come on (X unto), + forget, have, hold, obtain, receive (X after), take (away, up).
A prolonged form… a process, to keep on receiving, not a one-time shot. And there is activity there, “to take” but not passively or violently. Just a gentle reaching-out to take what is being handed to me.
Cry
krazō
krad’-zo
A primary verb; properly to “croak” (as a raven) or scream, that is, (generally) to call aloud (shriek, exclaim, intreat): – cry (out).
Croaking is such an unpleasant word; the very word even sounds harsh. We croak when we are parched or sick. So here I am, crying out, pitiful in my need, asking Daddy for help. Well, He gave me the right to do that…
Rom 8:16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.
Rom 8:17 And if we are children, then we are heirs; heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ; so that if we suffer with Him, we may also be glorified together.
Gal 4:7 So that you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, also an heir of God through Christ.
but I can see that this aspect of my relationship with God is going to be a journey, not a destination. I’m going to keep on asking for his love and reassurance and guidance and discipline. And more. And MORE!
