What kind of relationship do you have with God? Think about the possibility of having a friendship with God. That’s our topic in today’s video contribution to An Ignatian Prayer Adventure (Week 6).
Friendship with God
By Jim Manney
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Jim Manneyhttps://www.jimmanneybooks.com/
Jim Manney is the author of highly praised popular books on Ignatian spirituality, including A Simple, Life-Changing Prayer (about the Daily Examen) and God Finds Us (about the Spiritual Exercises). He is the compiler/editor of An Ignatian Book of Days. His latest book is What Matters Most and Why. He and his wife live in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
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to Lynda,
I wish you lived in New Jersey. I would love to be at your pray service. I would try for daily but not promise. I’m very happy you share it.
God is a Father, one who loves and disciplines…not a wishy washy earthly ‘friend’. This new trend that makes God our “friend” is false, designed to water down the gospel so that it is acceptable to people who don’t want to make a full committment and obey God’s Word. God deserve better than this, He is far more than just a “friend”
I WAS THINKING TODAY OF HOW MUCH I LOVE MY DOGS AND ALL THE DOGS I HAVE OWNED. WE ALL HAD SPECIAL BUT DIFFERENT RELATIONSHIPS. ONE IN PARTICULAR HAS MY HEART BECAUSE SHE SEEKS ME OUT,SHE LOVES TO CUDDLE AND BE NEAR ME, SHE TRIES TO PLEASE ME, SHE IS FUNNY AND SHE IS SO SWEET BUT SHE CAN MISBEHAVE AT TIMES. I WAS WONDERING OR THINKING THAT MAYBE GOD HAS SIMILAR FEELINGS WITH US. THAT HE LOVES US ALL BUT TAKES SPECIAL JOY IN THOSE WHO SEEK HIM OUT AND WANT TO BE NEAR HIM.
I BELIEVE SO MANY CATHOLICS ACT LIKE THEY HAVE TO BE DEEP AND SERIOUS like A ST. JOHN ON THE CROSS STYLE. ST. IGNATIUS SEEMS SO DOWN TO EARTH AND SIMIPLE THAT MOST PEOPLE OVER LOOK HIS APPROACH TO A DEEPER FAITH. HE ACTUALLY CALLS US TO FAITH IN ACTION AND PERHAPS GIVING OF OUR SELVES IS A MUCH DEEPER COMMITTMENT THEN SITTING OR KNEELING IN PRAYER. IT MEANS INTENTIONALLY MOVING AND DOING GOD’S WILL BUT HAVING A RELTIONSHIP WITH HIM TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND HIS WILL FOR US.
I agree Lynda! Listening is always the hardest, most challenging action. The non-action “action” of being still and just listening to what God has to say to you. I use to think that God would never talk to me. That what I was hearing was me-making up replies. Then my Advisor taught me how to listen by listening to all the other messages; such as my feelings, what I might be reading and experiencing and that made all the difference.
Lynda and Kay,
I still struggle with listening to God, please pray for me. In the near future, I have to move and I will be graduating, I know this is a great moment to take on a new journey with God; that is why I would appreciate that you keep me in prayer as I pray that I may follow His will instead of my selfish ways and the lazy way to life. May God always bless you both!
Thanks very much for this powerful message. I will be sharing this with a group that meets in my house every week.
“Tell God what’s on your mind and then listen to what He says.” The latter part of this statement is where the challenge lies.
Hi.
I’m Kathleen. I was just searching for a friendship prayer and it brought me to this site. Then I read this post. Glanced at others but really read yours. I posted a general comment too fast. I did not see reply. I move too fast typing.
I love that you do that in your home. I wish you lived in New Jersey. I live in
Bergen County. I would love to attend. I am still looking for my new church but continue with the old one but have been missing a lot due to timing. Have a great day. I love that you have a group in your house daily and that you share this.
God Bless and God Speed
I’m on this ill side which I do not want to discuss but you made my late morning. Thank you.