God’s love tells us that He is friendly, and His Word assures us that He is our friend and wants us to be His friends. No man with a trace of humility would first think that he is a friend of God; but the idea did not originate with men. Abraham would never have said, “I am God’s friend,” but God Himself said that Abraham was His friend
― A. W Tozer
Friendship depends upon our free choice to enter into a trusting relationship with our friend.
A friend may ask us for a favour, thereby evidencing our wish to reciprocate in kind evidencing the truth of that friendship.
Friendship can only be experienced when the two friends reciprocate in kind, assisting one another towards growing a deeper, and life lasting friendship based upon trust. Friendship also depends upon our faithfulness never dictated by time, rather by our friend's wish to ensure that His favours are granted with all the love that Our Father has for those who trust in His timing.
For prayer is nothing else than being on terms of friendship with God. ―Teresa of Avila
Our willingness to discuss our difficulties, our dreams, our fears, and our anxieties with God are part of the daily process of growing a deeper, more meaningful relationship with our greatest friend. Communication between two friends recognises our willingness to accept advice, and act on that counselling the result of our growing trust in the wisdom offered to us by our friend.
Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art… It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which give value to survival.
~ C. S. Lewis
We know from experience that there will be moments when we are stumped for a remedy to the dilemma facing us. It is then that humility steps in asking us to discuss our issues with our greatest friend. The results of that dialogue surprises many when emerging wise guidance opens a door towards resolving the crisis that had reduced us to a state of high anxiety.
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.~ Matthew 6:6-7
Speaking with Our Father is best done in private where we can enter into a dialogue, in the silence of our innermost thoughts hearing all that our greatest friend provides for our well being.
If Christ Jesus dwells in a man as his friend and noble leader, that man can endure all things,
for Christ helps and strengthens us and never abandons us. He is a true friend.
~ Saint Teresa of Avila
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