The Best Friend You Could Ever Have
"A man of many friends comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24
How do you see God?
Do you see Him as a king? He is certainly that. But those who see Him primarily as the great king of the universe tend to have trouble getting close to Him.
Do you see Him as a father? He is certainly that. But some have had abusive fathers here on earth, so the concept of Father God can be hard to embrace, to say the least.
Do you see Him as a friend? He is certainly that. He is “a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” He is a friend who will be there for you through thick and thin. He is a friend to whom you can share your deepest, darkest secrets. He is a friend who wants to help you.
Be honest. Do you really see God as your friend?
A MIND SHIFT
I am convinced that most Christians don’t really relate to God as friend. They tend to gravitate more toward king and father. That is good and fine, except when it comes to sharing your heart. You see, we all have faults, failures, and struggles with sin – dark and ugly sin. Whether it be lust, jealousy, bitterness, hatred, greed, anger, substance abuse, sexual addiction, or whatever, sin is ugly and shameful … and not something you really want to discuss with the king or your father. But you can talk to your friend.
David is called “a man after God’s own heart,” but he was still a human being with weaknesses and sins. One of David’s greatest strengths was his honesty before his friend, the God of heaven. David could pour out his heart to God because he saw God not only as king and father and shepherd, but as friend and helper. He said in Ps. 54:4, “Behold, God is my helper.” What a great verse!
Behold is an important word in Psalm 54:4. It is a word of astonishment, exclamation, and emphasis. David is saying, “Look! See! Wow! The great God of the universe, who can do all things, He is my helper.” It is time for you to look and see that God wants to be your helper. He wants to be your friend who helps you.
IN YOUR LIFE
In the ways you see God, make sure to add friend, a helpful friend. Talk to God today as you would your best friend. Share your successes and failures with Him. Don’t sugar-coat your struggles to make them more presentable to the king, or to your father. Share them just as they are, like you would share them if you were talking to your best friend. If you will relate to God in this fashion, you will be amazed at the closeness and intimacy that will result … and the help the Lord will bring to your heart and to your circumstances.
Praise God we have a friend in Jesus who will never leave us nor forsake us. He will always be a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Love,
Pastor Jeff Schreve
From His Heart Ministries
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Jeff Schreve is Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church in Texarkana, Texas. He and his wife Debbie have been married for over 20 years and are blessed with three wonderful girls. Jeff began From His Heart Ministries, a radio and television ministry, in January of 2005. This ministry is completely listener/viewer supported. It continues only through the faithful and generous gifts of people like you. Pastor Jeff takes no salary from this ministry. All gifts go to further the broadcast.
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Jesus taught us many things through His parables, including how to live life to the fullest!
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