Abba's Child

1. Embrace Your True Self: Come Out of Hiding

God loves who we really are—whether we like it or not.

Authenticity and vulnerability. Many of us hide our true selves, fearing rejection or judgment. We create false personas, like the impostor, to gain approval. However, God calls us to come out of hiding and embrace our authentic selves, flaws and all.

God's unconditional love. The journey to self-acceptance begins with understanding God's unconditional love. He loves us not in spite of our brokenness, but with it. This realization allows us to be honest about our struggles and shortcomings, knowing that God's love is not contingent on our performance.

Healing through honesty. When we stop hiding and honestly confront our true selves, we open the door to healing and growth. This process involves:

• Acknowledging our weaknesses and failures
• Sharing our struggles with trusted others
• Accepting God's forgiveness and grace
• Embracing our identity as God's beloved children

2. Confront the Impostor Within

The false self was born when as children we were not loved well or were rejected or abandoned.

Understanding the impostor. The impostor is our false self, a persona we create to gain acceptance and approval. It's driven by fear of rejection and a desire to please others. Characteristics of the impostor include:

• Preoccupation with appearances and achievements
• Fear of vulnerability and intimacy
• Constant need for affirmation and validation
• Difficulty in expressing genuine emotions

Acknowledging the impostor's role. While the impostor initially served as a protective mechanism, it ultimately hinders our spiritual growth and authentic relationships. Recognizing and confronting the impostor is crucial for personal and spiritual development.

Embracing authenticity. To overcome the impostor, we must:

• Identify the masks we wear in different situations
• Practice vulnerability and honesty in relationships
• Ground our identity in God's love rather than others' approval
• Cultivate self-awareness through prayer and reflection

3. Recognize Your Identity as God's Beloved

Being the beloved is our identity, the core of our existence.

Understanding belovedness. Our true identity is rooted in being God's beloved children. This is not based on our accomplishments, status, or even our spiritual performance, but on God's unconditional love for us.

Transformative power of belovedness. When we internalize our identity as God's beloved:

• We find security and worth in God's love, not external validation
• We become less driven by fear and more motivated by love
• We can extend compassion to others from a place of fullness
• We experience freedom from the need to prove ourselves

Living from belovedness. Practical ways to embrace this identity include:

• Regular meditation on Scripture passages affirming God's love
• Practicing contemplative prayer to experience God's presence
• Surrounding ourselves with people who reinforce our belovedness
• Challenging negative self-talk with truths about our identity in Christ

4. Live as Abba's Child: Compassionate and Nonjudgmental

What I want is mercy, not sacrifice.

Childlike faith. Jesus calls us to become like children in our faith. This doesn't mean being childish, but rather embracing:

• Trust in God's goodness
• Openness to wonder and mystery
• Freedom from pretense and self-importance
• Spontaneity in expressing love and joy

Overcoming judgmentalism. The pharisaical spirit within us often leads to harsh judgment of ourselves and others. As Abba's children, we're called to cultivate:

• Compassion for human weakness and brokenness
• Forgiveness for ourselves and others
• Humility in recognizing our own flaws
• Mercy that extends beyond rules and regulations

Practical compassion. Living as Abba's child means:

• Prioritizing relationships over rigid rules
• Seeking to understand before judging
• Extending grace in difficult situations
• Actively looking for ways to show kindness and mercy

5. Experience the Present Risenness of Jesus

The present risenness of Jesus as "life-giving Spirit" means that I can cope with anything.

Immediate presence. The resurrection is not just a past event or future hope, but a present reality. Jesus is alive and active in our lives now.

Transformative power. Experiencing the risen Christ:

• Gives us strength to face life's challenges
• Infuses everyday moments with divine significance
• Provides hope in the midst of suffering
• Empowers us to live beyond our natural abilities

Cultivating awareness. Practical ways to experience Christ's presence:

• Develop a habit of "practicing the presence of God"
• Look for signs of God's activity in daily life
• Engage in contemplative prayer and meditation
• Participate in communal worship and sacraments

6. Recover Passion Through Intimacy with Christ

The recovery of passion starts with reappraising the value of the treasure, continues with letting the Great Rabbi hold us against His heart, and comes to fruition in a personal transformation of which we will not even be aware.

Rediscovering passion. Many Christians lose their initial fervor and passion for Christ. Recovering this passion is essential for vibrant faith.

Intimacy with Jesus. The key to rekindling passion is deepening our intimacy with Christ. This involves:

• Spending time in His presence through prayer and meditation
• Engaging with Scripture as a love letter, not just a rulebook
• Allowing ourselves to be vulnerable and honest with God
• Cultivating a sense of wonder and awe at God's love

Transformation through passion. As we grow in intimacy with Christ:

• Our motivations shift from duty to delight
• We become more aware of God's presence in everyday life
• Our hearts are softened towards others
• We find renewed purpose and energy for service

7. Cultivate Fortitude and Reject Fantasy

Faith in the present risenness of Jesus carries with it life-changing implications for the gritty routine of daily life.

Facing reality. True spirituality doesn't escape into fantasy but courageously engages with the realities of life, including suffering and death.

Developing fortitude. Christian fortitude involves:

• Trusting in God's presence and power in difficult circumstances
• Persevering in faith when feelings or circumstances are challenging
• Standing firm in one's convictions, even when unpopular
• Embracing vulnerability and weakness as opportunities for grace

Rejecting false comforts. We must guard against:

• Escapism through entertainment or addictions
• Over-spiritualizing problems to avoid addressing them
• Seeking security in material possessions or achievements
• Becoming preoccupied with end-times speculation

8. Listen to the Rabbi's Heartbeat: Embrace Vulnerability

The greatest fear of all is that if I expose the impostor and lay bare my true self, I will be abandoned by my friends and ridiculed by my enemies.

Intimate connection. Just as John leaned on Jesus' chest, we're invited into intimate communion with Christ. This involves:

• Quiet, contemplative prayer
• Listening for God's voice in Scripture and life
• Allowing ourselves to be fully known and loved by God

Embracing vulnerability. True intimacy with God and others requires vulnerability:

• Honesty about our struggles and doubts
• Willingness to risk rejection for the sake of authenticity
• Courage to face our own brokenness and need for grace

Transformation through intimacy. As we listen to the Rabbi's heartbeat:

• We become more aware of God's love for us and others
• Our capacity for compassion and forgiveness grows
• We find healing for our deepest wounds
• We discover our true identity as beloved children of God

Last updated: December 2, 2024