Read Friend of God – Part 1 here.
How Do We Build a Friendship With God?
- Spending Time With God
For a relationship to grow, friends spend time with one another, they are there for one another, think in a similar ways, care for each other and spend time together.
We can read the example of Abraham: he obeyed, followed, believed, talked to God, put God first and had confidence in God. God and Abraham had a strong relationship with each other.
Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. – James 2:23
The Apostle John instructs us on how we can know God, he writes:
“And by this standard we know that we know Him: if we keep His commandments.” –1 John 2:3
It is essential that we spend time with God each day, both listening to Him through study and meditation and talking to Him through prayer. These are the steps we can take to draw close, get to know Him, learn His ways, and think as He does.
- Trusting in God
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” – Proverbs 3:5
God knows how essential it is that we learn to trust Him. He can and will help us with this as we ask Him. We can stop and ask Him for courage and peace. We can remember previous interventions He has done for us. It is so important for us to talk to one another about the things God has done for us. Share with each other our faith stories and the ways God has answered our prayers. Then we are struggling and fear is nagging at us we can bring to our minds all that He has previously done for us stop.
- Seek First the Kingdom of God
How we spend our time shows where our priorities lie. We must put God first and seek His Kingdom. Remembering that the things of this world are not of God’s Kingdom.
“ Do not love the world, nor the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” –John 2:15
“..Seek first the kingdom of god and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” –Matthew 6:3
Remembering our goal is to be in The Kingdom of God. (Psalm 82:6)
- Love One Another
God’s commandments can be broken down into those that show love towards God and those that show love towards our neighbor (Matthew 22:36-39).
“And this is the commandment that we have from Him: that the one who loves God should also love his brother.” – I John 4:21
When we follow God’s lead in our life He can bring to mind ways that we can reach out to one another. We show love to others through phone calls, cards, email, visiting, physically helping out, and most importantly praying for one another. As we love each other we are showing love towards God. Part of laying down our life is being prepared to give of our time to encourage and pray for others that God places in our path.
“No one has greater love than this: that one lay down his life for his friends.” – John 15:13
