God's Friend

Sunday, November 23, 2025

Good morning, Lord

Father in Heaven, I seek You first-the knowledge of Your kingdom and Your righteousness. Fill my consciousness constantly and complete Your joy in me as I take up my cross and follow...In Jesus' name…

Memory verse: Psalm 27:13-14 (NIV)

“I remain confident of this, I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”

Verse of the day: Psalm 100:4-5

4 “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!

5 For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.”

Today’s reading: Ezekiel 20-21 James 5

God’s Friend

James 4:4 says that “...if man is a friend of the world, he makes God an enemy.”

So let’s turn that around, “If a man is an enemy of the world, He makes a friend of God.”

Verse 5 goes on to say that the Spirit God made to live in us-the Holy Spirit of Truth-is jealous over us or wants us for Himself alone. Why? Because He is power hungry? Because he wants to rule over us? Of course not-but because His love for us is endless.

So:(in verses6-10)

God gives more grace to the humble-the mind to understand and take a stand to:

> refuse the devil and see him leave

> take the grace to understand how to draw near to God and know and feel how God comes near to you.

> Clean sin out and make your thinking pure.

> Know true humility where you are really sorry for sin in your life where your false worldly laughter turns to sorrow and mourning and your joy over things of this earth makes you sad.

Then it says, “When you are humble, God will honor you.” This means God will turn your mourning to dancing-Psalm 30:11,12:

“You have turned my mourning into dancing for me;You have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,12  That my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent.O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.” 

This is what happens when we chose, day by day, to take up our cross(Luke 9:23) and humble ourselves and pray(2 Chronicles 7:14) and choose to make a friend of God.

Friends lay down their lives for each other and God has already done that part-how about each of us?

Tell God that you want to be His friend.

...because He loves you, He will do it...

Father in Heaven,

Holy is Your name, Oh great God. Your kingdom come in my heart and mind. Give me the desire today to grow in friendship with You. Forgive me for holding on to the world. Lead me from evil.

Maker of Heaven and earth,

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen