Spirit of Adoption

A Spirit of Adoption is mentioned several times in the Bible. It's a concept that intrigues me, along with the obvious opposite, a spirit of slavery. Many today refer to this as an orphan spirit. Either way, a person lives as if there is no one who really loves or cares for them and as if they have to look out for themselves because no one else does.

The Roman understanding of adoption was quite different from our understanding of adoption. In ancient Rome, it wasn't children who were adopted, it was adult males. These young men usually still had two living parents so they weren't orphans at all. If you were adopted, then, by a Roman, you had all the rights as if you had been born of that father, including wealth, power, and social standing.

Many, if not all, of us struggle with an orphan spirit. We live as if we have no one to call our own, as if we have to do it all on our own, as if there is no one to share in our successes, if there are successes. There is no place where this is more evident than in interacting with those who have experienced the loss of one or both parents, especially those in foster care. However, there are also many who live out of this mindset even though they do have an intact family. Satan is always trying to keep us from our true identity and loves to see us living out of a slave or orphan mindset.

Still not sure what this looks like? Both of the sons in the Biblical story of the Prodigal Son are examples of the orphan spirit. One son thought that he had to perform to win a father's love, and the other thought he had to come home begging to earn even a small portion of his father's love back. Ebenezer Scrooge is another example. He thought he had to do it all on his own, not owing anything to anyone but everyone owing him.

Recently one of our children went through an exceptionally difficult time. The orphan spirit was rearing its ugly head and all forms of love were being pushed away. Awakened in the middle of the night, I spent those hours praying for this child and asking for wisdom in how to proceed. The words that came to me were just as relevant for me in my struggles as they were for my child and for all of us who struggle with an orphan spirit.

These are the words God spoke to me:

You can choose to live like a princess in the house of the King
OR
You can choose to live like a servant in the house of the King.

Either way you have the privilege of living in the palace albeit within a specific set of rules, responsibilities, and expectations.

But only one way will bring you happiness, freedom, and a life of opportunity.

It's your choice.

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For [the Spirit which] you have now received [is] not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing sonship] in [the bliss of] which we cry, Abby (Father)! Father! The Spirit Himself [thus] testifies together with our own spirit, [assuring us] that we are children of God. And if we are [His] children, then we are [His] heirs with Christ [sharing His inheritance with Him]: only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory.
Romans 8: 14 - 17