During the sermon this past Sunday at my local Body of believers, a guest speaker worked with the concept of intimacy in communication with our Heavenly Father. While on the surface, laughing with all during his insightful illustration, I agreed – !00%!
All of a sudden I was confronted with change. During my “quiet time” the next morning as I was busy with Him, I realized that even though I agreed with our speaker, I was one of the ones who are formal in my expressions with Him. I use “Father” a lot, seldom “God,” as that could be anyone, but I stay on the “Heavenly Father” side in my expressions.
However, even before the sermon, I was becoming more and more aware of my tendency to be formal Just how formal do I need to be since the Almighty God of the entire universe and everything in it has chosen to dwell in this body of clay, by His own choice?! He has eliminated any definition of distance between us by that action. He has been my source (hence Father), and the lover of my soul (Lord), yet, Abba. If we were in Greece and heard a child running after His Dad using that term (and we probably would hear it for it is common), we would understand that it means “Daddy.”
In the natural, I never called my Dad, Father. I grew up in the Bible Belt, and we just didn’t do that. (I guess it came from a misunderstood interpretation of “Call no man Father.”) So I have always called God my Father all the while knowing it was much too formal for how “we” communicate.
There is nothing I do not share with Him. Not because I remember it all, nor because that is the emphasis of our time, but just because He lives in me and already knows. He blesses, corrects, and loves me moment by moment and second by second. He is indeed my “Dad.”
It is time I begin to make that switch in expression. It is a bit difficult for me, but it will happen. I had already started a switch in my prayer journal for we already have individual names for one another there. This public and, for me, bold step to do so verbally has begun. It is way past time!
Seems like All Of A Sudden, but really, it has been coming. Thank you, Beloved Dad, for making Yourself so real and available.
Mannaword 
Yes, DAD would be difficult for me. Perhaps I’ll start with ABBA.
Sent from my iPhone
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Me too! I think those of us with Godly Dad’s have a struggle with “Dad” here. But I am purposefully becoming much less formal in my day’s moments with our Beloved One. I believe when we began to open to this reality, He will supply His name to us in unique ways. Let’s give it a go! Love you, Renee!