Day 16 of the 30-Day Praise Challenge

 

Day 16

Becky Harling

“I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from My Father I have made known to you.” - Jn.15:15

The Invitation

“I have invited you to be My intimate friend. When you feel lonely & long for companionship, come & praise Me. I am continually pursuing you, & it delights Me when you respond to My love with thanksgiving. Nothing gives Me greater joy than spending time with you. Before I created the world, I chose you to be My close friend. I sent My Holy Spirit as a seal of My commitment to our relationship.

In your world, friendships go through changing seasons, & feelings of closeness ebb & flow. I know there are times when even those closest to you feel distant or too busy. This is not so with Me. I always have time for you & will be forever faithful. When you praise Me, you are more able to hear how My heart longs to spend time with you. Relax with Me; let go of worries that you aren’t good enough. Enjoy our friendship today!” (Jn.15:15; Jn.14:15-20; Pr.18:24)

As humans, we long for close friends, & we can have no better friend than the friend we have in Jesus. Focus your praise today on the deep friendship He offers you. Jesus will never leave you or forsake you. He wants to be your confidante for all eternity. He longs for you to share the deepest places of your heart with Him. When you spend time in His presence, you are more able to hear His heart.

“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends.” (Jn.15:13-14)

Listen

Listen to “Friend of God” performed by Israel & New Breed

& “Jesus, Friend of Sinners” performed by Casting Crowns.

Pray

Lord Jesus, thank You for inviting me to be Your friend. I will exalt You forever, because You laid down Your life for me. I can’t even fathom that kind of love. I thank You for being the greatest friend I will ever have. I don’t have to hide anything from You because You know me completely, & yet You still persist in pursuing my friendship. You understand when I feel lonely or left out. You understand when I feel insecure or embarrassed.

Thank You for Your unconditional acceptance. I am so grateful that You promise never to leave me or forsake me. Thank You for always being available & never too busy to be with me. I praise You that the moments when I feel lonely are moments when I can lean into Your friendship more deeply. I worship You because even when I can’t feel it, Your presence is always with me. (Jn.15:13-15; Heb.13:5; Ps.63:8; Ps.139:7)

Journal

Think about your friendships. Are there times when you feel lonely or that you aren’t connecting well with others? Have there been times in your relationship with Jesus when He has met your deepest longings for a close friendship? If so, write about those times. If not, spend some time praying & reflecting on how you might develop this kind of a relationship with Him. What kinds of things could you do to make Jesus your closest friend?