In my last blog, I shared how God graciously befriends you and listed several ways you can personally know Him as your friend. A friend who welcomes you into His presence to have face to face fellowship with Him. Click here if you missed it and would like to read some of the beautiful privileges you have in a friendship with Jesus.

In part two, I’d like to focus on what the Bible teaches about being a friend to God. It’s important to understand His friendship with you, but it’s equally important to know your part in being a friend to Him. Your devotion to Him matters.

The book of James tells us that the Spirit who is in us yearns jealously. God yearns for you to have a friendship with Him. He is jealous for you (James 4:5).

Jealousy is most often thought of as a negative character trait. But the scriptures teach that there is a righteous type of jealousy. In fact, in Exodus 34, Jealous is one of God’s names.

You must worship no other gods, for the LORD, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you. Exodus 34:14 (NLT)

The friendship God desires is compared with a friendship between a husband and wife, an intimate and personal relationship. One that requires devotion and commitment.

One of the strongest passages about being a friend to God is in James. These verses are very clear that to have a friendship with Him, you cannot be a friend to the world. In fact, friendship with the world makes one an enemy of God. The chapter goes as far to say those who love the things of the world are adulterers.

Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? James 4:4-5 (NKJV)

The book of 1 John explains this even further.

Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. 1 John 2:15-17 (NLT)

This passage is very clear that not only is God calling you to not crave and participate in what the world offers but to be devoted to Him and actively commit to doing what pleases Him.

The way to be a friend to God is not only to turn away from loving the things of the world, but to put into practice those things that are pleasing to Him.

Ways to please God

The following are several ways you can be pleasing to God and deepen your friendship with Him:

Faith. There is an initial putting your faith in God and receiving salvation, and then there is the day to day faith you need as you live for Him. Trusting God through the good and bad times both honors Him and pleases Him.

 
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)

Trust in Him at all times... Psalm 62a (NKJV)

Love.  A true friendship with God requires whole-hearted love and devotion.

A friend loves at all times... Proverbs 17:17 (NKJV)

Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment..." Matthew 22:37-38 (NKJV)

He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me...John 14:21 (NKJV)

Prayer. Talk to Him. He already knows what's on your heart and what you're going through. Yet He desires to hear your voice, connect with you, and lighten the heaviness you carry. Talking to Him pleases Him.

Trust in Him... Pour out your heart before Him... Psalm 62:8

The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but he delights in the prayers of the upright. Proverbs 15:8 (NLT)

Knowledge. To fully please Him you must continue to seek to know Him. You will never arrive at a place where you completely know and understand Jesus this side of heaven. Keep increasing in the knowledge of Him by spending time at a Bible-teaching church and in your own study of the scriptures.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ... 2 Peter 3:18 (NKJV)

...that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, ...increasing in the knowledge of God. Colossians 1:10 (NKJV)

Mindset. Having a mind controlled by the Spirit pleases God. Take your thoughts captive and replace your human mindset with the things of the Spirit. Your obedience in this area blesses God and keeps you near to His heart.

Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.Colossians 3:2 (NKJV)

Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. Romans 8:5-6 (NLT)

...bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ... 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NKJV)

Holiness. Guard your heart and be aware of temptations. Submitting to God and resisting the devil honors God, and helps you draw close to Him.

But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15:16 (ESV)

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts...James 4:7-8 (NKJV)

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. Romans 13:14 (NKJV)

Share. Looking out for the needs of others and finding ways to meet those needs pleases God.

And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God. Hebrews 13:15-16 (NLT)

At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me... They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. Philippians 4:18 (NLT)

Praise. A heart full of praise and thanksgiving is beautiful to God.

Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. Hebrews 13:15 (NKJV)

Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful. Psalm 31:1 (NKJV)

Questions to reflect on

In what ways are you deepening your friendship with God?

How can you put into practice today, one or more of the actions above?

My prayer for you

I pray after reading this that your heart is stirred to bless God and be a good friend to Him.  I also pray that you will feel His presence, and His smile on you as you deepen your friendship with Him.

Faith. Love. Prayer. Knowledge. Mindset. Holiness. Share. Praise. These are all possible in your life by God's Spirit living within you. May your life be empowered to live in a way that delights the heart of God.

Click here for a free Bible study that will help you to grow in your relationship with Jesus, and guide you in loving Him with all your heart, soul and mind.