Devotions from Jan Johnson’s book Invitation to the Jesus Life

Jesus calls us friends! Is that a radical thought? Too often we frame God’s invitation to share His life as a contract. We may view Him like a vending machine.. If we put in the coin of good deeds, church activities etc then He will reward us with a life free of problems etc.  But this is really using God, not loving Him. We are only seeing God’s blessings rather than His own self. But He is more than a solution to our problems. He is a daily companion of our souls.
Without a close soul-friend relationship with God, prayer becomes an attempt to manipulate God. But when we live in union with Him, answered prayer becomes a natural part of abiding in Him, not something sought in the mechanical view of God..

He wants us to be our companion and invites us to a life in Him!