Like any friendship, you must work at developing your friendship with God. It takes desire, time, and energy.

Choose to be honest with God.

The core of a deeper friendship with God is complete honesty about your faults and your feelings. God doesn't expect you to be perfect, but he does insist on complete honesty. Don’t blame God for hurts caused by others. Tell God exactly how you feel; God's closest friends Moses, David, Abraham, Job, and others also had bouts with doubt. 

Choose to obey God in faith.
Obedience is a condition for intimacy with God. He said, "You are my friends if you do what I command." We obey God, not out of duty or fear, but because we love him and trust that he knows what is best for us. Follow Christ out of gratitude for all he has done for you. The closer you follow him, the deeper your friendship becomes.

You don’t need to do ‘great things’ for God. Actually, God is more pleased when we do small things for him out of loving obedience. They may be unnoticed by others, but God notices them and considers them acts of worship. God treasures simple acts of obedience more than our prayers, praise, or offerings.

Choose to value what God values.
Friends care about what is important to the other person. The more you become God's friend, the more you will care about the things he cares about, grieve over the things he grieves over, and rejoice over the things that bring pleasure to him.

What does God care about most? The redemption of his people. That’s why friends of God tell their friends about God.

Desire friendship with God more than anything else.
Intimate friendship with God is a choice, not an accident. You must intentionally seek it. What is it worth to you? Is it worth giving up other things? God will do whatever it takes to bring you into fellowship with him. Start asking God to give it to you, and keep on asking until you have it.


Question to Consider:       
What practical choices will I make today in order to grow closer to God?

Verse to Remember:

Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you. 

James 4:8