Friendship

Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God.’ Genesis 6.9

The beginning of Genesis is an incredible picture of God’s creation and the rebellion of the human race against him. It is not just about the fall of Adam and Eve in the garden; within a few chapters, human beings are described as corrupt and violent (verses 11–13). In contrast, two people, Enoch and Noah, stand out. Both are described as men who walked with God (Genesis 5.24 and 6.9). What a beautiful aspiration for us – to be people who walk with God, people who are God’s friends.

One of the characteristics of a friend of God is someone who does not treat prayer as something that is only done at set times of the day. Instead, there is an ongoing awareness and conversation with God, and an honesty about friendship. We can talk to God about anything that bothers us, be it big or small. We can talk about our weaknesses and temptations, and the more we do so the less of a mask we put up and the more intimate we become with him.

Friends also listen to each other. Just as we can pour out our hearts to God and know he listens, so we can expect him to speak to us. As you read the Bible, catch his heart in the words you read and expect him to speak – often as random thoughts or Bible verses that come into your mind. The desire to be intimate with God is all it takes for you to sow seeds of this friendship into your life. As you sit with God now, see him as a friend. What you ought to say is not important, it’s being with him that counts.

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