FRIENDSHIP VOWED

Jonathan said, "Go in peace! The two of us have vowed friendship in God's name, saying, 'God will be the bond between me and you, and between my children and your children forever!'" (1 Samuel 20:42, MSG).

God meets me in my powder room routinely. Just as the water flowed from the showerhead, tears flowed from my eyes. Without warning, I started sobbing about how much I will miss E.M. once he graduates.

Every time I think about my friendships, the fullness of my heart prompts me to cry gleeful tears.

O Sovereign God, I thank You for being the engineer of my friendships. I exalt You because You have created bonds that will last beyond my lifetime.

Forgive me for the times when I don't appreciate Your friendship. I confess that loneliness can be so distressing that I forget that You are my closest companion. "Nevertheless I am continually with You; You do hold my right hand." (Psalm 73:23, AMP). Lord, give me the proactive faith of Abraham, so that You too will call me friend.

O God, please continue to bless the bond between my friends and me. Though short and long distances separate us, draw us close as we pray for one another. Let the Holy Spirit connect us when we're needed most. Your Word says that I'm unprotected when I'm by myself; however, with a friend I can face the worst. (Ecclesiastes 4:12, MSG). I thank You for loyal friends I can depend on during tragic and triumphant times. I thank You for the ability to distinguish an artificial friend from an authentic friend.

Life is challenging because I've had to terminate some relationships because the friendship was shady. Life is good because You help me to establish new, positive friendships. Life is abundant because You will forever be the bond between my friends and me! (1 Samuel 20:42, MSG).

O Sovereign God, I praise You for the wonderful friends You have placed in my life! I intercede for those who are lonely and don't know the meaning of genuine friendship. I ask that You would place people in their lives that will demonstrate a friendship similar to that of Jonathan and David. Lord, thank You for being my Best Friend!

In the friendship-vowing name of Jesus Christ, I pray...AMEN.

And [so] the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed in (adhered to, trusted in, and relied on) God, and this was accounted to him as righteousness (as conformity to God's will in thought and deed), and he was called God's friend.  (James 2:23, AMP).