A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24 (NIV)
Nothing is as desirable in this world as a faithful and loyal friend, Amen? One whom we may go to at all times for encouragement, exhortation, and loving kindness. Believers have this friend in Jesus. We can make our desires, secrets and grievances known without fear of repetition, condemnation or shame. He is the most faithful and loyal friend Who can rightly counsel us, strengthening us with His love and tender mercies as we unburden ourselves to Him. And He never shames, repeats or condemns rather He restores sweet peace. He draws us nearer to the well that never runs dry. Indeed, He is the Living Water.
In prayer we lay before Him all that is in our hearts and He comforts and enables us to walk in a manner worthy of His precious Gospel. He is only ever a breath away. We unburden ourselves to Him – having our hearts open before Him (as He knows them anyway) – and He consoles, calms and comforts these fretful hearts of ours. He strengthens us with His power and promises, bestowing on us His perfect peace that passes understanding. He lifts our spirits, equipping us to go forth from “strength to strength” so that we may once again bring Him glory through our lives.
For us to have this ability and privilege - indeed, even boldness - in approaching God in prayer cost Jesus dearly – we must never take prayer lightly or flippantly as it is priceless beyond measure. It is the proper and most advantageous way to give our hearts vent as it brings us much comfort and peace. As we make our cares known to Him – casting our burdens upon Him – He has promised to sustain us. Prayer is the way we obtain the mercies of which we stand in such desperate need. As our prayers ascend His mercies descend. And we stay ourselves on God’s power and pleasure. His mercies can better our circumstances - be them ever so bitter.
Jesus changes us from the inside out. He teaches us the will of the Father – gradually, sweetly and purely. He encourages us, equipping us to go forth in His power. Nothing bolsters our faith as His mercy – and nothing is as hopeless that His love and mercy does not encourage our faith. Remember, fallen man has an inherent native blindness and natural enmity to the ways of God and cannot discern the ways of the Spirit. We must never expect regenerate behavior from the unregenerate. It is only through Jesus that one may walk rightly in God’s eyes through the power of the Holy Spirit.
No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.** John 1:18 (NIV)**