"Friendship with God means being open to Him no matter what." - John Arthur.
If there is any secret I could teach you on becoming a best friend of God, apart from obeying Him, then it would be being open to Him. Never attempt to hide anything from God if He is indeed your best friend.
True friends do not hide from each other - This is one of my favorite quotes. The basis of friendship is revelation.
To God, friendship means being open, transparent, "naked", honest, authentic, real, frank and vulnerable.
Openness breeds trust, intimacy and love in friendship. Dr. Rick Warren says, "Genuine friendship is built on disclosure."
An American novelist, Sarah Dessen writes “Friends are honest with each other. Even if the truth hurts (Maggie).” Be honest with your friends.
To do this in your friendship with God, take these seven (7) areas of your life into consideration;
1. Your Fears.
Never hide your fears from God. If there is anything in life that injects fear into you, tell God about it. He will give you courage to face and overcome.
"And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him." (Luke 22:43).
2. Your Failures.
Don't hide your downfalls from God. Failing doesn't mean you're a failure. Talk to God about it and He will give you strength to succeed in that area.
"And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet." (Luke 15:21-22).
3. Your Faults.
If you make a mistake with anything, don't beat yourself down so much. God is not mad at you. So don't be too mad at yourself. Discuss with Him and he help you recover.
"I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee." (Luke 15:18).
4. Your Flaws.
Surprisingly, God is interested in your weakness. If you have a weakness in any area of your life, never hide it from God. Keep telling Him and He will take you out.
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28).
5. Your Future.
Your future is God's past. So don't think of keeping it away from Him. Make your future plans known to God, and He will direct your path.
"Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." (Prov.16:3, NIV).
6. Your Feelings.
Your emotions were not given by God to destroy you; but to enable you function as His child. When you feel broken about anything, talk to God about it.
"This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same temptations we do..." (Heb.4:15, NLT).
7. Your Friends.
Your friends are your future. Friends of God tell God about their friends. Pray for your friends. You can't pray for your friends and dislike them. The more you pray for your friends, the more God blesses you.
"When Job prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes. In fact, the LORD gave him twice as much as before!" (Job.42:10, NLT).
Living by these keys on a consistent basis will draw your closer to God and make you one of His best friends. God is interested in your life, so allow Him to be part of it.
Kind regards,
JOHN ARTHUR.
President | Author,
The School of Friendship.
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