“For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” – Romans 8:15-16
Romans 8:15 says, “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’” That cry—Abba—is not casual. It’s the deep, emotional cry of a child who knows he belongs. It’s the kind of cry Jesus Himself uttered in the Garden of Gethsemane, when He was in agony and facing the cross. And now, that same Spirit of adoption lives in us. The Bible tells us that the unbeliever has no thoughts of God (Psalm 10:4), but the believer cries out for Him. That longing, that holy ache to be near the Father, is not something we manufacture—it’s the work of the Holy Spirit within us. It’s proof that we’ve been brought to the table, adopted into the family, and given the right to call God our Dad.
This assurance is not just emotional—it’s spiritual fact. Romans 8:16 says, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” God doesn’t hand us a card at salvation and say, “Keep this so you don’t forget.” No, He reminds us daily. Every morning we wake up, the Spirit whispers, “You are His.” That’s objective truth from Scripture, but it’s also subjective experience. The Holy Spirit gives us holy longings, convictions, and confirmations that the world cannot take away. And this assurance doesn’t lead us to careless living—it leads us to holiness. A true believer, if given the choice to live any way they wanted, would choose never to sin again. That’s the fruit of assurance. It doesn’t produce rebellion—it produces reverence.
Thomas Goodwin once said that assurance brings forth a “new edition” of a believer’s graces. It’s like a second conversion—where doubts are silenced and joy takes root. And that joy is contagious. It’s one of the most powerful evangelical traits a Christian can carry. When you know you’re His, you want others to know they can be His too. Assurance changes everything. It gives you boldness, peace, and a heart that longs for the Father. Lean into the Spirit’s witness. Let Him remind you who you are. Let Him stir those holy longings. And let your joy in Christ be the light that draws others to the Savior. You are His—and He tells you so.
“It is like new conversion. It will make a man as different from himself in what he was before, almost to the degree that conversion did before he was converted. There will come forth a new edition of all that man’s graces.” – Thomas Goodwin
surrendered devotions 