Many churches encourage participation in starting the new year in 21 days of prayer and fasting. Ours started today. As I mulled over how I would participate, my thoughts turned to Sunday’s sermon. My pastor spoke about three different relationships with Jesus; a fan, a follower, or a friend. I decided to look at this in relation to these 21 days. As a fan, I would look at it as a good idea that would gain me some benefit. As a follower, I might see everyone else doing it, and since I’m a believer, consider it the right thing to do. But I don’t want to think of it as just a good idea or even the right thing to do. So what would be my why? What is my expectation?
Let’s look at the third option. What does it mean to be friends with God? And how does that influence my prayer and fasting?
I thought about my relationship as an adopted daughter.
But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.
John 1:12 NLT
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.
1 John 3:1a ESV
This is our saving grace. It is a complete work of God in our lives through faith.
But in my thinking not every family member is also called a friend. Being a friend is an extra layer; one not determined by blood or adoption, but by a desire for closeness and relationship.
I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
John 15:15 NIV
Another way to look at our relationship as a friend of Jesus, is as one based on trust, love, and a shared purpose. In the scripture above, Jesus is redefining His relationship with the disciples. He is moving beyond teaching by bringing them into sharing in His work.
What is my why? Why will I participate in these 21 days of prayer and fasting? It’s because of the relationship I want to have with my Lord and Savior, Jesus.
Grace & Peace,
Sandy
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