Friendship with God

FRIENDSHIP WITH GOD

Isn't it Incredible?

That we; as small and as insignificant as we are in comparison to the universe; have captivated the heart of the Creator. So much so, that in John 15:15 Jesus says, "I have called you friends."

God wants it to be a real friendship in every way. Where you can share what you are really thinking and feeling, and know that He accepts and loves you, just as you are. God wants us to experience this life together with Him.

Like every new friendship, you need time to get to know each other. In this sesson, we are going to look at some practical ways to get to know God. 

1. MAKE TIME FOR GOD

Friendship only grows when you plan & prioritise spending time with a person.

When you first became a Christian, you said yes to a relationship with God. Friendships dont just happen you usually make a choice to spend time with that person, often laying aside other things to invest in that friendship. Your relationship with God is the same the more time you invest with Him, the more you get to know Him and the closer you get to Him.

Start small and be consistent; Consistency is the key to building all good relationships.

GOD TIME = Time set aside each day without distractions, where you can spend time with God.

When is the best time of the day for you? i.e. are you a morning or evening person.

Where should I have my God time?

2. PRAYER - TALKING TO GOD

God wants to hear from you! Communication is foundational to good and growing relationships. 

He never gets tired of us telling Him how we feel and the secrets of our hearts. The most important thing to God is that we are real with Him. It is a huge relief to know that we dont have to wear a spiritual mask when we talk to God. If we are struggling, we can tell Him if we are going well, He loves hearing about it. The most important thing is that we dont pretend God can handle the truth!

God is a friend that is bigger than any circumstance you face, and yet close enough to be right in it with you. He is the perfect friend. He loves you extravagantly and you always have His attention. There is no right or wrong way to pray. You can chat to God the same way that you would confide in a close friend.

Prayer is talking to your father; not doing things in your own strength, but inviting Him in and asking for help (guidance, wisdom, and perspective). It is not just about talking, but listening as well.

What should I pray about and what do I say?

• Thank Him for the good things.
• Ask Him for things.
• Pray for others.

What are some ways that God speaks to us?

• In our hearts e.g. a still, small voice
• Through His Word e.g. a Bible verse touches your heart
• Through other people e.g. Pastors and Leaders

3. HOW TO READ AND USE THE POWER OF THE BIBLE

The second key to growing as a Christian is reading Gods Word the Bible. The Bible empowers us to have a strong & vital relationship with God and we read it so we can hear from Him. A person who does not read God's Word regularly will become weak and 'spiritually dead'. 

The Bible is the inspired Word of God. There is only one way the Bible could make sense, and that is if there was ultimately one author. Written over a period of some 1500 years (around 1450 B.C. to about 100 A.D.) it fits together perfectly. It has over forty different authors from all walks of life (shepherds, farmers, tent-makers, physicians, fisherman, priests, philosophers and kings). Despite the time and writer differences, it all flows together and that is a miracle!

Below is a method of reading the Bible which might help you. It is called SOAP.

S SCRIPTURE

Choose a verse from the Bible. It can be the memory verse for the week or another verse that has stood out to you. Write this verse into your notebook so you can read over it and refer to it later.

O OBSERVATION

Write down your observations and thoughts.

Helpful hints: What is the writer trying to say? What things stood out to you? What was your response to what you read?

A APPLICATION

Now write out some practical applications that can be gained from your reading. These practical applications can be things you can impliment into your own life.

Helpful hints: What can I learn from what I have read? I can... I need to

P PRAYER

Write a prayer, reflective of what you have just read and thought about.

This is a good way to remember and ponder on what you have read, to look back and see what God has been speaking to you about, and to remember what God has done. 

Most of us are used to making decisions according to how we feel, and as a result, our lives are often up and down.

Try this! Begin to choose to make decisions based on what Gods Word says to do, and you will become secure, and your life will begin to wind upwards.

3. ATTENDING CHURCH - GOD'S HOUSE

Many people have the idea that church is merely a beautiful building. However, Gods house is not a building!

Church is Gods people, and you are an important part of it! When we meet together, we are encouraged. God can speak to us through His word and through the people that He has anointed to speak.

Attending church is also about helping others get to know God more.

It is important to gather together as the Church, but it is also very important to have a personal relationship with Jesus outside of Church services. We were never meant to just ATTEND a Church, but we are actually meant to BECOME the Church. This requires us to work on building a deep connection with God and His people through the local Church.