Friendship with God

Friendship with God is reserved for those who reverence him. (Psalm 25:14, TLB)

Ps. 25, Ex. 33:11; Deut. 34:10; Jn. 15:15; James 2:23

What Is God Saying?

Psalm 25 is one of David's acrostic psalms. Such a psalm is easy to memorize and sing. David begins this psalm, singing of God as his loving friend and protector, ‘To thee, O Lord, I lift up my soul; O, my God, in thee do I trust. AII the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness. My eyes are ever toward the Lord-he will pluck my feet out of the net.’ (Ps. 25).

How Does This Apply To Us?

Victory in our troubles and help in loneliness and affliction (25:16) come from trusting in the friendship of God, but that friendship is not cheap or shallow. Friendship with God is a blessing given only to those who worship Him in His majesty and are humbled by His power, especially the power of His love. The joy and the strength that comes from friendship with God is indescribably wonderful.

Pray With Me

Thank You, Lord, for Your friendship. ‘Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’ Knowing Christ and what He did, can I doubt Your friendship? Friendship is Your wonderful gift. It is always a source of mutual enrichment. It blesses those who give and those who receive. It gives meaning to life and a purpose to sacrifice. It is caring deeply and sharing freely. Yet, as one of life's choicest blessings, it is often taken for granted. It is accepted too casually and nurtured too indifferently. As with so many of life's best gifts, it is never genuinely valued until it is no more.

Lord, You have proven Your friendship toward me. Your friendship is brought to me by the everyday blessings of life, which are anything but ordinary. You gave me the ability to walk and eyes to see that green cypress impaled against the deep, blue sky. You provide the dew that makes the roses sparkle. You send the wind that makes the leaves dance in the sunlight. You give me work to do, plans to make, letters to compose, things to create, books to read, and friends who will listen and understand. Lord, Your friendship makes all the right things possible and all the best things real, but I must not take for granted Your friendship and the blessings that flow from it. Today, I have seen that ‘the friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him.’ You are not one to be dreaded, but You are to be held in awe and respect. Friendship with God cannot be without worship, wonder, and praise.

Thank You for that friendship, Lord. It stands above all other relationships and will outlast all other friendships. It is strong enough to carry me to and keep me through eternal life.

In the name of Him, who brought a transforming friendship into my life. Amen.

Moving On In The Life of Prayer

Prayer is that wonderful time when we have a conversation with our friend. We have access to God through Christ because He said, ‘You are my friends’ (Jn. 15:15). That is our invitation. That is the basis of our confidence as we pray. That is our assurance that He wants only the best for us and should have only the best from us. Never should we dread coming before God, ‘Perfect love casts out fear (or dread)’ (I Jn. 2·23). We should be strengthened and blessed by the greatness of God. When we say to our Father, ‘How Great Thou Art,’ we lay the foundation for His great answers. We open the door to the greatest blessing in time or eternity, friendsh1p with God.’