Best Friends
Lately I have been on a book binge. Tonight I sat down with a book I had picked up for my baby brother for his birthday (he is soon to be 16) and three hours later I emerged, book finished. This has been going on a for a few weeks now. Soon it will pass and I will spend all my “extra” time commenting on people’s blogs, or writing, or painting, or cleaning.
I am the same way with friends. I have never been good at life long friends. I tend to spend a lot of time with one friend for several months or even years, then we will go our separate ways and then I will make a new friend and follow the same pattern. It is hard for me to choose to contact someone I haven’t talked to in a while and if they don’t respond I am left wondering–Is she mad at me? Did I offend her? Is she just really busy? Is she having trouble at home and doesn’t want to talk about it? Is she just as bad at friendship as I am?
Knowing this about myself I have to make an extra effort to maintain my daily relationship with my Lord. I can go on study sprees and soak up all the Hebrew I want or research a book of the Bible to bits, but in the end it is the day to day stuff I need to focus on. What kind of friend am I being to my Lord? Am I keeping my eyes on Him? Am I making sure I am not offending or getting too busy? Am I turning to Him in times of need? Sometimes it is more of an effort than others but it is the most important thing I can do, and the most important friendship I can maintain. He is faithful and I need to be careful to be faithful to Him.
“Ye shall be holy; for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:16 (R.V.)
Continually restate to yourself what the purpose of your life is. The destined end of man is not happiness, nor health, but holiness. Nowadays we have far too many affinities, we are dissipated with them; right, good, noble affinities which will yet have their fulfillment, but in the meantime God has to atrophy them. The one thing that matters is whether a man will accept the God Who will make him holy. At all costs a man must be rightly related to God.~ Oswald Chambers
Lord of all the friendships I may maintain in this life, You are the most important. Lord help me to keep my eyes on you regardless of the storm around me.
How is your relationship going?
Wonderful post, thank you.
Wow.,, we are so alike although I think mine came from moving around so much. It is hard to maintain friendships when you moved. I shared about this in a very recent post in fact.
I also work at keeping a relationship with my Savior. It is so crucial to all that I am in Him.
Hugs and God Bless!
I’ve been a pretty unfaithful friend to the Lord. But I want to walk in him. I want to be a sheep that sticks to the Shepherd like velcro. There is no one better…
I moved a lot when I was a child and believe that made it harder for me to build lasting friendships. I, too, can struggle with friendships at times.
I have learned more about being a friend from the friendships Jesus had with his disciples. Wonderful examples that I try to focus on.
Great post.
I loved that….and needed to hear it too. I have found the same struggle with myself….with friendships…tasks……prayer “times”, etc. I especially loved this last part you added…. At all costs a man must be rightly related to God (O.Chambers)
How true…at all costs.
It is really true that the longer we stay away the harder it is to get back to that close relationship. Thank you for this gentle reminder.
I’m in a phase where I’m anticipating a lot of change and stress so I’m trying to make sure I maintain my focus and stay in the Word.
Great reminder!
I love your prayer at the end. He really is the most important friendship in my life.