Getting to Know God as a Friend
“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is as unsearchable.”
- Isaiah 40:28
There’s always that awkward beginning stage when you make a new friend. At first, you like this new person, and you wonder if they think you’re cool too. So you reach out to them, suggest you two get together, and you’re relieved to see that they reciprocate. You meet for coffee and start talking a bit about your own life. But how much do you share with someone you just met? You don’t know much about them, so you can’t be sure how they will receive what you’re saying - so you hold back. You decide it’s safest to keep it surface level for now, until you get to know her better.
In contrast, we all have that one friend who has been around forever. She knows our deepest, darkest secrets and she love us anyway. When it comes to these friends, we don’t even hesitate to spill our guts and tell them the nitty gritty when something happens. Why is this? A relationship is built over time - we have to get to know people in order to trust them. You trust your best friend because you know her character. She’s been there to bail you out of trouble. You’ve entrusted her with your heartaches, your stories, your successes… and she' hasn’t let you down. Our relationship with God is the same way. When we begin following God, we may hesitate to pray that really honest prayer. We may not feel ready to pour out the whole story to Him. (That’s ok - He knows it all anyway!) As we grow in our faith by studying the Bible, we uncover more of the the many defining traits that make up His character. Over time, as we get to know Him, we become more comfortable sharing our hearts with Him. That’s when He can really do the incredible, transformational work in us. We must get familiar, up close and personal with God to experience deep connection with Him. He’s the best friend you’ll ever have! Love ~ Nina
Abba Father, thank you for being here for me, for desiring to be close to me. I pray that You would give me the desire to know You more deeply as I study your Word. Show me parts of your character that I have not yet seen. In the name of Jesus, I release any hurt, beliefs, or other experiences that have influenced me to see you in any way other than who You are. You are the Truth, You are holy, You are always good. You are the great I AM. You are my shepherd, and guiding light. I am becoming more aware of you each day and I am so grateful that You are in my life. You are Elohim my Creator, Jireh my Provider, Jehovah Rapha my Healer, and Jehovah Shalom, the God of Peace. I am fully known, seen, and cared for by You, Lord. Help me to open my heart to love you more deeply. I am excited to get to know You better and see You as a friend.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
