I am a Child of God
Romans 8:12-17 TLV

Abandonment and rejection by others can make living in this world feel impossible. When you consider that we are wired for connection, it makes sense that when we aren’t living in community or are walking the part of the outcast, we begin to die on the inside. Our heart begins to harden, and we begin to build walls of protection design to insulate us from the inevitable blows of others.

Once I say yes to God and believe Christ for my salvation, I now have a choice. I can do things the old way, the way I’ve always done them and get the tried-and-true results I always got, or I can do things the way Christ is asking me to do them. If I want to learn to do things His way, He promises the Spirit will be with me. He will teach me and lead me. He will be faithful to His Word. Why? Because I am His! I didn’t realize it, but my yes to Jesus was my agreement to be adopted by His Father, now my Father! I am no longer an orphan. Despite how I feel or what I may be told, I don’t ever have to be alone again.

Verse 14 tells me that I am acting like His son or daughter when I let Him lead me. For all who are led by the Ruach Elohim (Spirit of the Godhead), these are sons/daughters of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall again into fear; rather, you received the Spirit of Adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” We are His children, adopted into His family!

The Ruach (Spirit) Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. And if children, also heirs—heirs of God and joint-heirs with Messiah—if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.