In Mark 14:36, we see Jesus use that expression for the first time in his prayers. It is instructive that at other times, Jesus had used the word “Father” in his prayers and teachings but never used “Abba, Father.”
That scripture in Mark showed the most vulnerable moment in the life of the Son Jesus. Here, he was passionately pleading that God would, if He wills, take away the excruciating pain of the cross from Him. He foresaw the physical and emotional torture and the spiritual weight of sin and for a moment as a man desired that the salvation of man could come through another strategy.
Although that prayer was not answered, because God had determined to sacrifice his only begotten Son for the salvation of mankind, we see a dimension of prayer that Jesus had not revealed to us until that time. His vulnerability as a human, exposed by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to apostle Mark, gives us an understanding of how Jesus interacts with God most intimately.
Abba, Father, therefore, gives us an insight into how God’s children can ask their Father for help in the most difficult and painful moments of their lives – times of gross darkness and obscurity, times of deep heart and stomach aches, times of unexpected sorrows and tears, times of groaning when no man can help.
In Romans 8:15, Apostle Paul then borrows from Jesus to show us that as adopted sons and daughters of God, we have the same rights as the ones born into the family. By virtue of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, anyone who believes is adopted into this new family and will enjoy the same rights and privileges that Christ enjoyed as the Son of God. Therefore, we are no longer slaves, but can boldly cry Abba, Father. We are co-heirs with Christ.
In Galatians 4:6, Apostle Paul then shows us that one of the proofs of sonship is the indwelling of the Spirit of the Son of God. And that this Holy Spirit prompts us to cry, Abba, Father. So, as the children of God and coheirs with Jesus Christ, we have the privilege of coming to and calling unto God as Jesus had in Mark 14:36. So, the indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit which propels us to cry and the boldness to call unto God during dire moments is premised on our adoption as sons of God through redemption.
Abba is an Aramaic word that means Father or my Father. When infants say Abba, it shows an unreasoning trust, that is, a trust that is not guided by or based on good sense; illogical. However, when a child says Father, it expresses an intelligent understanding of the relationship that the child enjoys with his father. When as sons we call God, Abba, it shows that we know and understand that he is our father and he will hear us. We know this by looking at the relationship God had with his son, Jesus, while on earth. Many times, Jesus would say, “Father, I thank thee for you hear me always.” Jesus was praying from the place of this unshaken understanding, and God ALWAYS heard him.
So, when we cry Abba, Father, we express love and intelligent confidence in God. We are assured that God will hear us because we are his sons and daughters, and we repose absolute trust in Him.
When Jesus said, Abba Father, he had confidence that God would hear him, no wonder he immediately added that all things are possible to God – Mark 14:36. There were no doubts whatsoever and we shouldn’t have doubts as we make these prayers today.
Today, we shall call on Abba, Father to come to our aid, and He will answer.
Prayer points:
Sing some songs of praise unto your Father. Worship Him before taking the prayer points below. The prayer points can be prayed in any order of choice.
1. A cry for reconciliation to our Father. In Luke 15:11-24, we see the conviction, return, repentance, confession, and reconciliation of the prodigal son to his Father. Add Matthew 11:28-29.
Prayer: Abba, Father, I am convicted of my sins, I repent and confess them to you. I am not worthy to be your servant nor to be taken into your arms again. But please Abba, Father receive me home to you. Forgive me of my sins and reconcile me to yourself. PRAY
Abba, Father, I lay down my sinful burdens and yoke of sin at your feet. Take them away, my Father. PRAY.
2. A Cry for help. You are drowning under the weight of responsibilities. You are fighting to remain afloat in life, but the load of responsibilities keep putting your head under the water, wanting to drown you. In Psalm 61:2, the Psalmist cried because his heart was overwhelmed. He desired that God would lift him out of those deep waters and keep his feet on the Rock JESUS.
Prayer: Abba Father, I cry unto you for your help. The responsibilities of life (Mention them) have torn my life apart. I find it difficult to smile because I’m drowning. No one sees nor understands my pains. But you do. My Father, My Father! Take these weights away from me and put my feet above them. Plant my feet on the Rock Jesus. PRAY.
3. A request for divine provision of your needs. As an adopted child, you share the same rights and privileges as one born in the family. So, ask God for whatever you need from him. In Matthew 7:7-8, Jesus promised us that everyone who asks receives.
Prayer: Abba, Father, I need your blessings upon whatever I lay my hands to do. I ask for your favour in my life and family. You promised that I shall lend to nations and not borrow. Turn around my finances, job, and business. Let me blossom and my fruits come in abundance. PRAY
4. A cry for deliverance from the hands of the enemies. When a child is running towards a direction, it’s most likely that his parent is in that direction. The enemies have chased us, and we’ve been running. It is time to let out a cry of help to Abba, Father. Tonight, we are calling unto our Father to come and fight for us because we can’t stand them on our own. In Judges 5:20-22, we see how the forces of God (stars of heaven) fought against Sisera, and his army and the river swept them away.
Prayer: My Father, My Father! Let the stars of heaven fight against all my enemies. Let the forces of God fight against all the forces of Satan and grant me complete and permanent deliverance tonight. Arise, Oh God and let the enemies be scattered. As smoke is driven away, drive them away, Psalms 68:1-2. PRAY.
5. A prayer for the Spirit of faith and sound mind. As adopted sons and daughters of God, we should enjoy the soundness of mind, clarity of purpose and faith for the impossible that Jesus Christ enjoyed. Jesus knew why He was on earth, and he never doubted the certainty of its accomplishment. Herod tried at His birth and failed woefully. The religious people attempted, but he was fearless. Pontus Pilate shouted, but his threat availed nothing before Jesus. In 2 Timothy 1:7, we see that God has given us the spirit of power, love, and sound mind.
Prayer: Abba, Father, drive away every spirit of fear (mention the fears) that has troubled my mind. Every spirit of confusion, doubts, and a sense of loss, let such spirits be sent to hell now. Grant unto me the Spirit of faith and boldness. Let my mind be sound and let understanding from the Lord flood my heart. My Father, My Father! I desire clarity of purpose and the steps to accomplish it in Jesus’ name. PRAY.
6. A prayer of surrender and circumcision of heart. As sons and daughters of our Father, we should be surrendered to God. No Father loves a stubborn, irresponsible son or daughter. God desires a close relationship with us, where He is our utmost desire, and we are yielded to His instructions. In first Samuel 15:22, God tells us that he desires obedience more than anything. Complete surrender to God’s will delights the heart of God. Deuteronomy 30:6 tells us that God will conduct a circumcision in our hearts that will make us love Him with all our heart and soul. Tell Him to be King, Lord and God over your life.
Prayer: Abba, Father, I come tonight in absolute surrender unto thee. I have long followed my will, plans, and thoughts, but tonight I surrender all to you. Let your desire become my desire. Let your thoughts be my thoughts. Let your will be my will. I want to seek your pleasure, not mine. I want to see your glory, not mine. I want to see your fame, not mine. I want my entire being to be lost in you. That all of me be sacrificed on your altar, O Lord! PRAY
7. A cry for anointing and spiritual mantles. Our Father desires that we walk and work like Him. A good Father is always proud when his children manifest the qualities in him. God, our heavenly father created us in his image and likeness, so we should exercise the dominion he has blessed us with. Jesus told us in John 14:12 that greater works shall we do because he is returning to his Father. Abba Father is a cry to receive the mantle of God upon your life. In second Kings 2:12-13, we can hear Elisha scream, My Father, My Father! He tore his clothes and took up the mantle that dropped from Elijah.
Prayer: My Father, My Father, let the (mention the spiritual office you desire) mantle come upon me. Lord, I desire spiritual gifts for your service in this end time. Tell God that you want to begin to operate in divers gifts and graces that His mantle endows. PRAY.
8. Abba Father is a cry to burn down every prison wall and cut asunder every chain of slavery over your life and family. In Psalms 7:6 and 9, the Psalmist was vexed with the activities of the wicked and so asked God to arise in his anger and bring the wickedness of the wicked to a halt. Tonight, you want God’s fire to burn down every prison wall and shatter every stock on your hands and feet. You want God’s angels to be dispatched to cities and nations for rescue and destructive operations. That is, God will rescue you and your loved one and destroy the enemies.
Prayer: My Father, My Father, every prison where I and my family members have been kept, let the walls catch fire now. Every chain upon my hands, feet and neck be broken in pieces now! Let the weapons of the wicked pierce their hearts and their bowels gush out. Let the disgrace of my enemies be announced on the rooftops and let the birds of the air carry the news to distant lands. PRAY
9. Abba Father is a roar in the spirit that everything that has limited your spiritual growth should be upended. The devil has placed limits over your prayer and evangelistic life. Any time you remember to pray or to share the gospel with others, you become tired. You find it difficult to read the Bible and listen to Christian messages. But tonight, you want to pray until that ceiling that Satan has placed over your head breaks down. You want to arise tonight and ask the Spirit of God to help your infirmities, and may He groan to your voice to God’s ears until the powers that have held you down are discomfited. Romans 8:26.
Prayer: I must tear through tonight. Every human or demonically orchestrated tiredness and spiritual weakness, let it get out now. I receive the strength to pray and tarry in God’s presence until answers come. Let the passion for lost souls return in me. Let the desire to read the Bible come back. I receive back my fire and zeal. I violently take back my spiritual freedom. From tonight, I shall grow in the things of God. I shall never be weary for they that wait upon the Lord renew their strength. PRAY
10. Abba Father is a cry for God to establish his Church in Europe. The greatest desire of God is that souls be saved and return to Him. And that the Church grows in lips and bounds to teach men and women the spiritual truths that lead to maturity and ultimately to heaven. But the devil is fighting to deplete the number of souls coming into the Church and how many are retained. Satan is disguising himself and causing confusion in the Church (2 Corinthians 11:14). But tonight, let us arise and cry, Abba, Father.
Prayer: Abba, Father! In every dark corner where demonic beings are hiding in the Church, let the light of God shine, and expose them. Since the days of John the Baptist, establishing the kingdom of God has always been through spiritual violence. Therefore tonight, I violently bring the kingdom of God into my country and city (mention the names). Let God bring people, young and old into the Church. Let the fire of revival burn in our churches and awaken those who are sleeping. Let all the ingredients of a sound and lively Church be found in every member of the Watchman Church. PRAY
11. Abba Father is a prayer for God to remove every beast-like face on you. Some people are wearing demonic faces and scents on them. People find it difficult to stay with them after an encounter. There is something beyond their character that makes others not want further interactions with them. Tonight, let that spiritual odour vanish.
Prayer: My Father, My Father! Every odour which the devil spread on me, let it be washed off by the blood of Jesus. Every seal of disfavour and aggression which the enemies placed on my face, I tear it down by the finger of the Most High God. Any voice that is not God’s voice speaking against me even in my absence, be shut down and cease to speak henceforth. The voice of God will speak for me. The hand of God shall be upon me for God. The face of God shall shine through my face, in the name of Jesus. PRAY.
12. Abba Father is a yearning for God to reveal his Son, through His Spirit to you. The revelation of Jesus is needed today more than ever before. In Matthew 16:16-17, we see that it took God revealing Jesus to Peter for him to have a better understanding of who had been with him all the while. We need to cry for the eyes of our spirit to be enlightened – Ephesians 1:17-18. For no one knows the things of a man except the spirit of man, the same way we need the Spirit of God to reveal God and Jesus to us. 1 Corinthians 2:11
Prayer: Dear Father, I ask for the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Jesus. PRAY.
