Jesus Calls You Friend

Jesus was into breaking down walls.

In John 15:15 Jesus broke down more walls of separation by declaring “I don’t call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn’t know what his master is doing. But I’ve called you friends because I’ve made known to you everything that I’ve heard from My Father.”

By definition a friend is: one attached to another by affection or esteem.

A friend is someone you choose to like and want to have a relationship with.

Someone needs to know today 

the Maker and Creator of all there is not only absolutely loves you but He genuinely likes you! 

God not only loves you beyond measure but He likes spending time with you!

Pray

Isaiah 65:24 “Before they call I will answer;

while they are still speaking I will hear.”

God answers our prayers!

 The only prayer that goes unanswered is the prayer that is never asked.

“You do not have because you do not ask God.” James 4:2

Approval

Galatians 1:10 “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

Have you ever been called a people pleaser? I have. It’s true. But being a people pleaser is a huge burden to carry. People are fickle; people change their minds by the moment. That is a burden we were never created or called to have.

We are called/commanded to love people. Mark 12:30-31 tells us the two greatest commandments: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

We are called to love others, not win their approval. Be free!!!

Foolish??

1 Corinthians 1:27 “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.”

Have you ever been caused to feel foolish? You believed the best in someone and they threw you under the proverbial bus. Or perhaps you stepped out believing God and those around you shook their head in doubt.  

Be encouraged that God does not see things the way the world sees things. God’s standards are not the world’s standards. Isaiah 55:8 tells us "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,' declares the Lord

When God finds you walking in His truth, He is smiling on you in great delight (and He is walking with you each step of the way).

Romans 8:31-32 “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”

You are loved so much!! God wants so much more good for you then you even know to dream to ask for. God loves so much that He is not only for you, but He is fighting for you. 

“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:4

Waiting

Isaiah 40:31 “Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.”

Waiting is no fun! It’s no fun waiting in line or at a stop light. It can be agonizing waiting for the phone to ring. During a season, a few years ago, I felt like I was literally sitting in God’s waiting room. I believe I told Him that every day. Even to the point that the Bible study I was going to actually met in a waiting room. God has a great sense of humor.

Waiting is hard! God’s timing is hardly our timing. But, even in our waiting, God is always working. He is moving and orchestrating things and people into the perfect path.

If you are in the "waiting room" season right now, know that God is composing something beautiful, for your good and His glory! Wait expectantly for Him!

“In the morning, Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait expectantly.” Psalm 5:3

REST

Matthew 11:29 “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

I don’t know if you’re like me and often times it feels like you don’t know whether you are coming or going. Life travels at a hectic pace to the point where it’s hard to even sleep because you are hashing out what happened during that day or making a mental to do list for the next.

But God … I truly think those are the two most beautiful words.

But God has a different plan for our days. In the throughs of the chaos, He is beckoning us to focus on Him – the Prince of Peace. In the frantic, He wants to infuse us with satisfying rest for our souls.

"He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my sou. He guides me along the right paths for His Name's sake." Psalm 23:2-3

BUT GOD ...