Rev Bill

Purpose 1 in Rick Warren’s book The Purpose Driven Life is:

You Were Planned For God’s Pleasure

In day 11 Warren began writing about becoming best friends with God. He continues that in day 12 — beginning with the sentence:

You are as close to God as you choose to be.

God’s desire is for us to be close to Him. It is up to us to develop that closeness and friendship.

Warren gives 4 things you must have to develop that relationship with God:

1. Choose to be honest with God.
You have to learn to be completely honest with God. God wants you to express all your feelings and emotions to Him. It is only when you are completely honest with God that you can grow in your relationship with Him.

2. Obey God in faith.
Every time you trust God and do what God asks you to do, regardless of what that might be, you are deepening your friendship with God. I like Warren’s point that we do not obey God because we are compelled to or because we have to, but because we realize His love for us and want to respond in loving obedience to Him.

3. Choose to value what God values.
We need to have a passion for the things God has a passion for. Telling others about His love, reaching out to others with His love, and caring for those in need are some of God’s passions. They need to be yours also.

4. Desire friendship with God more than anything else.
Make an intimate relationship with God the most important thing in your life!

You can indeed be as close to God as you choose to be! God wants an intimate relationship with you. Seek to deepen your relationship with Him!

Lord — I want a deeper relationship with You. Help me to develop habits of prayer and study. Help me to be honest with You, obey You, and value what You value. Help me to make my relationship with You the most important thing in my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

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