08/24/2026
The Friendship of the LORD
“The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant” (Psalm 25:14).
When you think of Almighty God, do you think of Him as your friend? You should. The Bible tells us that since we have such access to, communion with, and intimacy in the Lord through Jesus that we are friends of God by faith (James 2:23). This is great news for our souls on a salvation level, because before our relationship with Jesus we were considered enemies of God in our sin (Romans 5:10). But now as friends this is sweet news for our souls in relation to how we go about our everyday life. Yes, dear believer, you have a friend in Jesus, who loves at all times, and you have a friend who sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs 17:17; 18:24).
What makes a good friend? Well, there are a few factors we could list... Here are some that we can think through in relation to our friendship with God:
1.) A good friend is there when you need them. God is always with us. He is omnipresent, and through His Holy Spirit, He promises to never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). We can count on the Lord to be there when we are on the mountaintop and in the valley low. I once heard a testimony from someone, testifying about how, in the prosperous days of their business, they had many friends. They owned a big ranch and always enjoyed hosting those friends at their fishing holes, deer blinds, and picnic tables. But when things went south, and they had to sale the ranch, they sadly realized that their friends began to decrease in number. Well, with God, He isn’t going anywhere. He doesn’t care how much you have or how much you owe, or if you only have seven toes; God loves you for who you are. And you can always count on Him to be that ever-present help when you need Him the most.
2.) A good friend is a listening ear. We always have access to God’s ear (Psalm 116:1-2). We can bring everything to Him, and He is so gracious to listen to us, hear us out, and help us cope with whatever it is that we are going through. As the hymn sings: “What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!”
3.) A good friend tells you what you need to hear and not what you want to hear. The Lord is the Truth, and He speaks the perfect truth when He opens His mouth (John 18:37). In our friendship, God will be sincere with us and will look us in the eye and tell us the honest and hard truth. And that is the very definition of a good, loving friend.
4.) A good friend is a source of encouragement. God is a builder and not a bulldozer for us as believers... He is the very God of Endurance and Encouragement, who comes to us daily with a fitly spoken Word (Romans 15:5; Proverbs 25:11). As you draw near to the Lord and spend time with your close friend, you will be greatly encouraged and built up in the faith for His name’s sake!
The friendship of the LORD is a gift. Spend time with your Friend this week. Talk to Him. Walk with Him. Laugh with Him. Trust Him. And go conquer your dreams and goals with Him and through Him!
Respect the Blood,
Dalton Mathis
