Abba, Daddy
God is our Father, our “Abba” or Daddy. He wants an intimate, bidirectional relationship with us. And He’s “giving away the secrets of the universe.” What is your relationship with God like? Do you talk with Him regularly? Do you hear Him answer? Do you want more?
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In 2017 my prayers changed.
First, I removed a block between me and God. I had been mad at God and I finally let it go. I decided I needed God and He mattered more than the incident I was mad about.
Second, when I removed the block and found God after years of feeling disconnected from Him, I discovered a close relationship, a two-way relationship, that felt more like family than Facebook posts. I began praying with the expectation of hearing an answer from God. I prayed conversationally, waiting to hear His answers, waiting even when I didn’t hear them, expecting answers to come. This resulted in two-way conversation. And it is awesome!
Two-way prayer doesn’t always work for me. Half the time I’m blocked by something and I resist listening or hearing God. My block might be lack of forgiveness, being mad at someone, sin (such as telling myself I screwed up), doubt, or fear. There are a multitude of ways to block myself from God! I'm constantly repenting to clear the blocks so that I can hear God respond.
I really, truly believe that God wants to talk to every person. He wants a two-way relationship. He wants to be our family. He does not want to be Facebook friends. He wants to converse with everyone, including you.
I’ve noticed three references lately that teach this idea. One is in the scriptures when Jesus prays to Heavenly Father. Jesus calls Him “Abba," which I've learned is an informal, familiar Hebrew word for “Dad.” So essentially, when Jesus is praying, he's praying to "Daddy" or “Papa." As He prays, He demonstrates a kind, intimate relationship with God.
For me, “Abba,” means that God is my Father. He's not a distant father or an all-powerful God that I'm pleading to. He is Daddy. He's right here. He wants to hold me just like I want to hold my three-year-old. He wants to rejoice in me the same way I rejoice in her. Isn't that beautiful?
A second reference comes from President Nelson, the president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In the April 2018 General Conference, he urged listeners to increase their capacity for personal revelation. He said, "Does God really want to speak to you? Yes! As well might a man stretch forth his puny arm to stop the Mississippi River in its decreed course as to hinder the Almighty from pouring down knowledge from heaven upon the heads of the Latter-day Saints. You don't have to wonder about what is true. You don't have to wonder Whom you can safely trust. Through personal revelation you can receive your own witness."
My favorite part comes next, after skipping ahead, — "Oh, there is so much more that your Father in Heaven wants you to know. As Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught, 'To those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, it is clear that the Father and the Son are giving away the secrets of the universe!’"
I’ve discovered a tiny bit of what He describes, of God giving away the secrets of the universe! When I clear away the blocks and when I approach my Father in Heaven as my daddy and I show up as I am with no pretense, with nothing in the way, with no fear, then I converse with God. I don’t have to wonder about things. I don’t have to rely on reason, or the words of others. God gives away the secrets of the universe, which for me, right now, usually means He tells me how much He loves me.
I talk and I expect answers back. Half the time I can’t hear Him, but I believe He's talking one hundred percent of the time. In fact, sometimes I’m close enough that I can tell He's talking to me, I just can’t distinguish the words. In this case, I usually end the prayer with faith that He will find a way to get through to me and He makes His answer clear in the next day or two.
Other times I tune in and converse, I actually hear God’s responses. I believe I’m hearing the voice of His Holy Spirit. Those times are so sweet. They feel like home, comforting, warm, sweet and peaceful. It's the most joy and peace I've experienced in life. I highly recommend it. If you haven't talked to God this way, try it out! Try with all your might!
The last reference comes from the Book of Mormon, scriptures we use in my church. It’s in the first book of Nephi, named after its author, Nephi, a prophet of God. In chapter 10, Nephi's father has just read the scriptures, the plates of brass, which contain the first five books of the Old Testament, the books of Moses (at least I think so… forgive me if I got that wrong). Lehi reads these scriptures and then he prophesizes! He shares great, grand things, he has visions, he has visionary dreams and he's filled with the spirit. Then in verses 17-19 it reads,
"And it came to pass, that after I, Nephi, having heard all the words of my father concerning the things which he saw in a vision and the things which which he spake by the power of the Holy Ghost…. I Nephi was desirous also that I might see and know of these things by the power of the Holy Ghost which is the gift of God unto all those who diligently seek Him, as well in times of old as in the time that he should manifest himself unto the children of men. For he is the same yesterday today and forever and the way is prepared for all men from the foundation of the world, if it so be that they repent and come into him. For he that diligently seek shall find and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them by the power of the Holy Ghost as well in these times as in times of old and as well in times of old as in times to come. Wherefore the course of the Lord is one eternal round."
Nephi believes that if his dad can see these visions, then he can too. He believes that he can ask and the Lord will show it to him, just like He showed the prophets of old, just like He showed Lehi, and just like He will show us today!
This means God will talk to us. As Elder Maxwell said, He is “giving away the secrets of the universe."
This is my testimony. God wants to talk to us. He wants to be our daddy. He wants a two-way relationship. He wants an intimate relationship.
What is your experience with God? Do you talk to Him? Do you hear Him answer? Have you heard Him at least a few times in your life? If not, do you want to?
I hope you're having a good day.
Keep shining!
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Video transcript (edited):
In 2017 my relationship with God changed from Facebook friends to family. What I mean by that is before March of 2017, when I prayed, I threw my prayers to heaven as if they were Facebook posts. I just said them, such as "Please help me with this" or "Thank you for this,” and "This is what I'm struggling with,” amen.In 2017 my prayers changed.
First, I removed a block between me and God. I had been mad at God and I finally let it go. I decided I needed God and He mattered more than the incident I was mad about.
Second, when I removed the block and found God after years of feeling disconnected from Him, I discovered a close relationship, a two-way relationship, that felt more like family than Facebook posts. I began praying with the expectation of hearing an answer from God. I prayed conversationally, waiting to hear His answers, waiting even when I didn’t hear them, expecting answers to come. This resulted in two-way conversation. And it is awesome!
Two-way prayer doesn’t always work for me. Half the time I’m blocked by something and I resist listening or hearing God. My block might be lack of forgiveness, being mad at someone, sin (such as telling myself I screwed up), doubt, or fear. There are a multitude of ways to block myself from God! I'm constantly repenting to clear the blocks so that I can hear God respond.
I really, truly believe that God wants to talk to every person. He wants a two-way relationship. He wants to be our family. He does not want to be Facebook friends. He wants to converse with everyone, including you.
I’ve noticed three references lately that teach this idea. One is in the scriptures when Jesus prays to Heavenly Father. Jesus calls Him “Abba," which I've learned is an informal, familiar Hebrew word for “Dad.” So essentially, when Jesus is praying, he's praying to "Daddy" or “Papa." As He prays, He demonstrates a kind, intimate relationship with God.
For me, “Abba,” means that God is my Father. He's not a distant father or an all-powerful God that I'm pleading to. He is Daddy. He's right here. He wants to hold me just like I want to hold my three-year-old. He wants to rejoice in me the same way I rejoice in her. Isn't that beautiful?
A second reference comes from President Nelson, the president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In the April 2018 General Conference, he urged listeners to increase their capacity for personal revelation. He said, "Does God really want to speak to you? Yes! As well might a man stretch forth his puny arm to stop the Mississippi River in its decreed course as to hinder the Almighty from pouring down knowledge from heaven upon the heads of the Latter-day Saints. You don't have to wonder about what is true. You don't have to wonder Whom you can safely trust. Through personal revelation you can receive your own witness."
My favorite part comes next, after skipping ahead, — "Oh, there is so much more that your Father in Heaven wants you to know. As Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught, 'To those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, it is clear that the Father and the Son are giving away the secrets of the universe!’"
I’ve discovered a tiny bit of what He describes, of God giving away the secrets of the universe! When I clear away the blocks and when I approach my Father in Heaven as my daddy and I show up as I am with no pretense, with nothing in the way, with no fear, then I converse with God. I don’t have to wonder about things. I don’t have to rely on reason, or the words of others. God gives away the secrets of the universe, which for me, right now, usually means He tells me how much He loves me.
I talk and I expect answers back. Half the time I can’t hear Him, but I believe He's talking one hundred percent of the time. In fact, sometimes I’m close enough that I can tell He's talking to me, I just can’t distinguish the words. In this case, I usually end the prayer with faith that He will find a way to get through to me and He makes His answer clear in the next day or two.
Other times I tune in and converse, I actually hear God’s responses. I believe I’m hearing the voice of His Holy Spirit. Those times are so sweet. They feel like home, comforting, warm, sweet and peaceful. It's the most joy and peace I've experienced in life. I highly recommend it. If you haven't talked to God this way, try it out! Try with all your might!
The last reference comes from the Book of Mormon, scriptures we use in my church. It’s in the first book of Nephi, named after its author, Nephi, a prophet of God. In chapter 10, Nephi's father has just read the scriptures, the plates of brass, which contain the first five books of the Old Testament, the books of Moses (at least I think so… forgive me if I got that wrong). Lehi reads these scriptures and then he prophesizes! He shares great, grand things, he has visions, he has visionary dreams and he's filled with the spirit. Then in verses 17-19 it reads,
"And it came to pass, that after I, Nephi, having heard all the words of my father concerning the things which he saw in a vision and the things which which he spake by the power of the Holy Ghost…. I Nephi was desirous also that I might see and know of these things by the power of the Holy Ghost which is the gift of God unto all those who diligently seek Him, as well in times of old as in the time that he should manifest himself unto the children of men. For he is the same yesterday today and forever and the way is prepared for all men from the foundation of the world, if it so be that they repent and come into him. For he that diligently seek shall find and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them by the power of the Holy Ghost as well in these times as in times of old and as well in times of old as in times to come. Wherefore the course of the Lord is one eternal round."
Nephi believes that if his dad can see these visions, then he can too. He believes that he can ask and the Lord will show it to him, just like He showed the prophets of old, just like He showed Lehi, and just like He will show us today!
This means God will talk to us. As Elder Maxwell said, He is “giving away the secrets of the universe."
This is my testimony. God wants to talk to us. He wants to be our daddy. He wants a two-way relationship. He wants an intimate relationship.
What is your experience with God? Do you talk to Him? Do you hear Him answer? Have you heard Him at least a few times in your life? If not, do you want to?
I hope you're having a good day.
Keep shining!
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