The Orphan Spirit

I've asked God to shine a light in my heart concerning these things in the past season. If you've never heard of this, it's worth looking into. You'll probably find more of yourself in here than you want.

Here's a link with an AMAZING teaching on The Orphan Heart.

http://www.saltlight.org/europe/resources/latest

Click on The Orphan Heart MP3 and have a listen. Mark Stibbe is the speaker. I think it's a great resource, especially for those who are looking to care for orphans.

The Strategic Shift From an Orphan Spirit to the Spirit of Adoption
Andrew Gross

What is the Orphan Spirit?
A sneaking suspicion that you are rejected

How does this apply to you?
Many of us go through life with the mentality of an orphan, believing that:
By definition I am rejected and reject-able
I inevitably will be rejected by others
I deserve rejection

Am I influenced by the “orphan spirit?”
Do you ever feel . . .
A gnawing sense of insecurity about relationships?
It is only a matter of time before I am rejected?
A need to protect yourself when getting closer?
A basic instinct to flee from relationships?
The need to make “exit plans”?
The need to day-dream about “Plan B”?
The need to fight because others don’t have your best interest in mind?
The need to preemptively reject others?
An automatic suspicion of those in power?
The need to respond out of all proportion to unintentional snubs?
That disagreements, corrections, or constructive criticisms from others are really masks for disrespect, dismissal, or rejection?

Imagine a community in which people believe . . .
I don’t belong here
I’m not wanted here
My contribution is under-appreciated here
People wouldn’t miss me if I disappeared today
I don’t feel valued here
I don’t feel safe in relationships here
I can’t really be myself here
If others saw the real me, they would reject me
The old-timers don’t accept me
The new-comers don’t accept me or the good things that God did
here in the past

But what is the “Spirit of Adoption?”

A certainty that you are accepted
I belong
I am included
I am known
I am desired
I am wanted
I am cherished
I am treasured

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship (adoption). And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."

Romans 8:15
God sent his Son . . . that we might receive the full rights (adoption) of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." So you are no longer a slave, but a son.

Galatians 4:4-7
He predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in
accordance with his pleasure and will. Ephesians 1:5

With the Spirit of Adoption comes the certainty of
God’s goodness as your Daddy
Your security as His child
A wide, broad mindset of confidence

We need to make this shift, but HOW?

The Problem: You don’t believe that God is good
The Solution: Fix your eyes on the character of God

Check the adoption papers
Rivet your thoughts and your imagination onto the Truth

"The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and
abounding in loving-kindness and truth, who keeps loving-kindness for
thousands, and forgives iniquity, transgression, and sin." Exodus 34:6-7

How much more does your heavenly Father know how to give good gifts.
Matthew 7:11-12

Do not be afraid little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the Kingdom. Luke 12:32

God, who gives to all men generously and without finding fault . . . James 1:5

An “oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. Because God
wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs
of what was promised, He confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul . . .” Hebrews 6:16-20