I am a friend of God

I just finished the second weekend of the Grace Life Advanced Training (GLAT) as well as the GCM Collective conference that took place at Summit Crossing in Madison, AL. I'm very encouraged by the Spirit of God and want to share a few things that have been running through my mind the past few days.
The theme of "friendship" has continued to surface in the past month. Throughout my life I have struggled with having friends- true sincere friends who stand by my side through thick and thin. On the flip side of that- I've rarely offered true friendship to others. For some reason I've never really known how to do it, or how to be good at it. And I'm very aware of how I've let other people down and haven't met their expectations of a true friend.
During our first weekend of the GLAT, my older sister made a statement that has continued to resonate in me. She said that the friends she chose during her first year of college weren't actually friends because they didn't really want the best for her. I thought, "Wow, I've NEVER chosen friends based on the criteria that they want the best for me." In my mind it was all about fun. Who could I have the most convivial time with? Who would entertain me or provide some type of carpe diem experience? Now don't get me wrong. I did have some wonderfully true and devoted friends in high school, yet, clearly, my definition of friend was skewed.
For me, in realizing the error of my thinking when it came to friend-relationships (all relationships for that matter) I believe I'm now able to be the person/friend I need to be to those around me. You see, I've never really enjoyed the company of people I deem shallow, but in light of this, I've realized how shallow I've been in the past by searching for just some external sensory high rather that putting my friends first and truly wanting the best for them. I've just been plain selfish. Yuck.
I also know, though, that just trying harder at being a good friend isn't going to cut it either. In becoming aware of my flesh, the way I try to get needs met apart from Christ by my own resources, I see there's not much hope in my trying to do that. Some people are more naturally a better friend than I am, and I used to think my life would be a lot better if I could just figure out how they did it- how they were such good friends that people desired to be around them constantly. If I could learn their secrets to success, or imitate their behavior then life would be ok. But I know that is also stinky thinking.
The exciting (and freeing) part of this is I don't have to do it. Only Christ can do it through me. He is the perfect friend! Romans 8: 10-11 says, "If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you." Whoa! I have the Spirit of God in me that raised Jesus from the dead! And I know that it is only because of that I can be a good friend- I allow the Spirit in me to love those around me and be a good friend through me. I know I'm not hopeless!
This is also freeing for me because I'm able to be a friend simply for the purpose of experiencing Christ's life through me. I get to love someone else and really want the best for them in seeing them encouraged and shaped more into the image of our Lord and not because I am hoping they will reciprocate the friendship. Philippians 2: 3,4 says "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests , but also for the interests of others." And since I have the assurance that I am Christ's friend (John 15:15) then I don't have to involve myself in relationships for the sole purpose of gaining a friend but being a friend :) And besides, Matthew 6:33 tells me to "seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things (needs) will be added to me." So I have nothing to worry about!
Dear Lord and Friend,
Thank you for this freedom from trying to perform and figure it all out. Help me to rest in You as I enjoy the ultimate friendship with You! Continue to teach me to let You live through me and transform me by your strength. I love you!


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