HOW TO BECOME A FRIEND OF GOD

 

“You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.  No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.”  (John 14:14-15)

 

Do you long to become a friend of God?  Is that even possible?  Why would God want to be your friend?  Well, it is possible and God desires to be friends with you.  Yes, you.  There is a plan that you can follow.  Let’s define what a friend is and then look at the examples in the Bible of people who became friends of God.

 

>Definition of a Friend:  a person whom one loves and trusts; close companion or comrade.  Someone whom you share a deeper level of interaction or communication with; someone you can really connect with, face-to-face.

Examples in the Bible:

Abraham>he believed God and he obeyed God.  “This is what the Scriptures mean by saying, “Abraham had faith in God, and God was pleased with him.” That’s how Abraham became God’s friend.”—James 2:23

 

Moses>had an intimate, close relationship with God.  “So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.”—Exodus 33:11

 

So how can we become a friend of God?  Here’s a simple plan:

 

• Spend more time with Him.  If you want to become God’s friend, you must make a concerted effort to spend time with Him.  Schedule that time!  It may mean getting up a little earlier, not wasting time watching the “idiot box” or spending every waking moment on some form of social media.  “When You said, “Seek My face,” My heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.”—Psalm 27:8

 

• Draw closer.  You have to come into the presence of God to get to know Him.  It cannot be done from afar.  “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”—James 4:8a

 

• Frequent encounters.  Develop a lifestyle where you are in constant communication with God.  “Walk with Him & Pray without ceasing.”  “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,  in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”—1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

 

• Obey Him.  When God calls you to do something, obey immediately.  Obedience to God is trusting God.  Remember He is omniscient—He knows our past, present and future.  Therefore, we can take Him at His Word when He gives us a command.  “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me.  And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”—John 14:21

 

• Listen to Him.  Stop talking all the time!  Listen for God to speak to your heart.  This may come through your prayer time, Bible study, church service or just walking down the street.  God has a lot that He wants to tell you and show you, so “be still” and listen.  “But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, And will be secure, without fear of evil.”—Proverbs 1:33

 

• Share your innermost thoughts, fears and desires with Him.  Remember He already knows, so confess them and watch God give you solutions, encouragement and confidence in Him to defeat every stronghold.  “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”—Hebrews 4:12

 

To be a friend of God, you must draw nigh and He will draw nigh to you.  If you make the effort to be in the presence of the almighty God, He will meet you there every time.  He is ready and willing to have a friendship with you.  Are you???