You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.
Psalm 139: 1-4
If you had to guess, how many people would you say you know? There have been multiple studies performed on this question, and it has been noted that generally, a person can retain the names and faces of around 150 people (give or take a few). Assuming that theory is correct, how many of those individuals would you categorize as genuine friends? Most friendships in life originate from external encounters, such as someone you met through work, church, or someone with a similar hobby or congruent life stage. As long as you have something in common, your friendship remains intact. But take away those common denominators, and all of a sudden, you begin to wonder if that friendship had any real substance.
Friendship with God, however, is both enduring and intimate. It is a friendship based on God’s intrinsic love of who we are, not what we do or what we have in common. God’s friendship drills through outward appearances and plunges deep into an unwavering commitment to us that is not rooted in similar interests or you maintaining specific criteria. And even on days you forget all about friendship with Him, He remains unwaveringly committed to you. Hear this: He is not going anywhere. And don’t worry. The theory about only being able to know 150 people at once does not apply to Him. He doesn’t just know your name and your face. He knows every hidden part of you, both inside and out. He sees you. He knows you. He calls you a friend.
Pause to Ponder: Today, take an honest inventory of your friendship with God. Is it intimate or distant? Constant or occasional? Pray and ask God to show you what it would look like to grow your friendship with Him to the next level.