God was reaching out in love to each of us long before we ever knew Him. God does not love us because Jesus died for us, but Jesus died for us because God loves us. God is a true friend.
Since I live, you also will live. When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them. (John 14:19-21 NLT)
When we turn our will and our lives over to the care of God we have a powerful friend who comes to live within us. Because He lives, we also will live. It’s an incredible, even mind-boggling statement that Jesus made when He said that we become one with our Heavenly Father, and with Him, and receive the Holy Spirit who leads us into all truth. Turning our will and our life over to the care of God accomplishes more and better things than we ever imagined.
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. (John 14:16-17a NLT)
In our hearts we need to resolve that God truly is a power greater than ourselves, and His promise to never leave nor forsake us is reliable. With this truth firmly engraved on our hearts we can move forward in our recovery with the only friend who sticks closer that a brother. When we face problems, we have all the resources of heaven available to us right here on earth because God is not just with us, but is also in us. As we continually draw from these resources, we will gain victory after victory over all the works of the enemy. The Holy Spirit will guide us as we plan our course for a purposeful life and God has promised that He will direct our steps.
One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24 NIV)
Today, let’s rejoice that we are one with Jesus, our friend forever.
©2016 Partners in Hope
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