Forever Family

You received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children.

Romans 8:15 NLT

Do you have a story of adoption in your family?

Adoption stories can be very sweet, emotional, and inspiring to hear and share. These stories often involve unexpected twists and incredible bond-forming in families. They can highlight love, resilience, and connection so that instant families turn into forever families.

Adoption is near to every child of God’s heart.

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later (Romans 8:14-18 NLT).

Every child of God is adopted.

And every child of God receives God’s Spirit when He adopts you and me. In fact, the Scripture above says the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life is proof of my future inheritance in God’s kingdom.

God’s Spirit actually joins with my spirit to affirm that I am God’s child. This means my spirit can sense the presence of the Holy Spirit within me.

The Holy Spirit’s presence in my life gives me an awareness of the things of God that are happening so that I see my own sinfulness, need of repentance, and truth in God’s Word. I will also have an awareness of freedom to use my spiritual gifting to bring God glory.

The Holy Spirit turns my adoption as a child of God into true connection in God’s forever family in His kingdom.

Father, in the quiet of my heart, You speak to me whispering, “Child, I have adopted you. And when I did, I placed my Holy Spirit within you. He affirms that you are My child and He is a pledge of your future inheritance from Me.” Lord, thank You for this incredible gift of adopting me into Your kingdom, Your forever family, and the gift of Your Holy Spirit. In Jesus name I pray, amen.

Stacy A. Davis