SEARCHLIGHT
What are you doing to develop your friendship with God?
SCRIPTURE
The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Exodus 33:11 NIV
SPOTLIGHT
A missionary told the story of a small village in a clearing on the edge of a jungle where only a few Christians resided. The village was filled with crowded huts and busy people. Often, the Christians found it challenging to find a quiet place to have a private, personal devotional time of prayer and Bible reading. The custom developed in which the believers began making their way from their homes through the long grass into the forest. It became apparent where a Christian lived because there was a well-trodden path through the tall grass. If the quiet time was neglected, the path would become overgrown. It was common for the missionary to say to a believer, “Brother…sister …what has happened to your path?”
How is your friendship developing with God? Is your “path” well-trodden? Perhaps you do not view your time spent in prayer with God as being on a friendship level. Instead, you only see God as your Almighty Creator who is the Maker of heaven and earth. Spending time with God may be more like meeting with a King, Queen, President, or Prime Minister. There is a formality where you must watch your “P’s and Q’s.” You believe God is busy and only has an allotted time to spend with you. Everything must be done in precise order. The truth is nothing could be further from the truth than holding on to such ideas.
God has always wanted human companionship. He made only man in His image. [Genesis 1:26,27] Every day God had fellowship with Adam and Eve as they would walk in the Garden of Eden. Never did Almighty ever give His personal attention to any animals, birds, or fish.
The story of the children of Israel being set free and fleeing from Egyptian bondage expresses God’s desire to have a family built on personal relationships. To what extent do you realize that the God of this universe longs for a friendship with you? Moses set an example as to how to develop a friendship with God. In the above Scripture focus, the Bible says: #1 God spoke with Moses. #2 It was personal, not formal. #3 God spoke as a friend in addition to being the Almighty. #4 It is inferred that this was continual, not just one meeting. So what can you learn?
Developing a FRIENDSHIP WITH GOD is going to require you to take 4 action steps:
- Personally meet with God. You need to make an intentional decision to encounter God. It can be anywhere at any time. You do not have to be in a church or with a minister. Take Jesus at His word when He said, “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” [John 15:15] Jesus not only calls you by your first name but I believe He also beckons you by saying “Hey, friend, so good to see you! Got any time to hang out together?”
- Regularly meet with God. Read Moses entire account in Exodus 33:7-11. He made it a practice to pitch his God meeting tent outside the camp. Best friends do not talk sporadically or irregularly. They choose to spend time together. Moses was in the habit of meeting with God. Call it your quiet time, personal devotions, prayer, or whatever. It is an absolute essential. That is the place you will develop openness and mutual exchange with God. There is nothing to fear about this personal time. God already knows everything about you. Psalm 44:21 says, “Would not God have discovered it, since he knows the secrets of your heart?”
- Pick a specific place. Moses consciously separated himself from the hustle and bustle of the camp. He got away from the working people, playing children, family, and any form of distraction. Quality time with God requires alone time with God. Leave your cell phone in the other room. You can’t develop a quality friendship by doing multiple activities. Find a room in your home or outdoors. [Matthew 6:6] Make sure it is private so that you can talk to God aloud.
- Prepare for the most important meeting of your day. It is inferred that Moses looked forward to meeting with God. He did not feel obligated. In no way did he hesitate. He anticipated getting together with his Friend. Just like Moses, come into God’s presence willingly, expectantly, thankfully and intentionally with a desire to change. This will take time and energy but it will pay rich dividends. Use your Bible. Write down insights. Take time to talk with God about anything. Make this meeting more important than sitting down with your employer, teacher, judge or doctor. This is the most powerful meeting of your day.
SOMETHING TO DO
A rewarding friendship is based on self-disclosure. Aim to tell God about yourself. Be open to God showing you insights. Self-disclosure will lead you to talk to God about what you are and are not, what you have and need, what you like and don’t like, what you want and hope for, what you think and feel, what you believe and doubt, what commitments and plans you are making, what you fear and what you regret, etc. You will be greatly blessed by God filling you with wisdom and insight.
SOUL TIME PRAYER
Heavenly Father, it is difficult for me to comprehend how you are God and want me to be your friend. That said, I will not question this but choose to believe your Word. I want our time together to be the most important time of my day. I would pray that I would come to know you better so that I may come to know myself better. AMEN!