“Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you.”  James 4:8a (NLT) 

“We were restored to friendship{CRED} with God by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, so we will certainly be delivered from eternal punishment by his life. NOW we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God—all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us in making us friends of God!”  Romans 5:10-11 (NLT) 

Jesus: “I no longer call you servants... Instead, I call you my friends!”  John 15:15    

GOD: “I don’t want your sacrifices—I want your love; I don’t want your offerings—I want you to know me!”  Hosea 6:6 (LB) 

 HOW TO BUILD A FRIENDSHIP WITH GOD

1. Make knowing HIM my #1 

“Everything else is worthless compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus. I’ve discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may know Christ.”  Philippians 3:8 (NLT) 

“You will find me when you seek me with ALL your heart.”   Jeremiah 29:13

“You should know that loving the world is the same as hating God. Anyone who wants to be a friend of the ‘world’ becomes an enemy of God.”  James 4:4 (NCV) 

Jesus: “You are my friends if you obey me.”  John 15:14 (NLT)

 2. SLOW DOWN AND SHUT UP

“Be still, and know that I am God.”   Psalms 46:10a (NIV)  

“Friendship with the Lord is reserved for those who reverence him. With them he shares the secrets of his covenant.”  Psalms 25:14 

“When you come before God, don’t turn it into a theatrical production… Just find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.”  Matthew 6:5-6 (MSG)

3. ALWAYS STAY CONNECTED

“Pray all the time!”  1 Thessalonians 5:17 

“My determined purpose is that I may know Him—that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly.”  Philippians 3:10 (Amp)

 4. TRUST GOD NO MATTER WHAT

“Cast all your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.”  Psalm 55:22 

 In Trouble?

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28 NLT

Drifted Away From God?

“If you return to me, I will restore you so you can continue to serve me. If you speak words that are worthy, you will be my spokesman. You are to influence them; do not let them influence you!”  Jeremiah 15:19 (NLT) 

“No one shows greater love than when he lays down his life for his friends. And you are my friends IF you do what I command.”   John 15:13-14

“And this is what God commands: that we believe in his Son, Jesus Christ, and that we love each other, just as he commanded.”  1 John 3:23 (NCV)