Does God Enjoy Hanging Out With You?

Dear Friends,

Recently I was sitting with a young man who was questioning his relationship with God. He had fallen into that trap that many of us fall into in that we feel our value is based on what we do, not who we are. So, we feel that we must constantly be doing something for God for Him to be happy with us. This way of thinking does not see any value in just being with God, not doing anything.

So, we struggle with insecurity in our relationship with Him, knowing that we should spend time with him but feeling as if we don’t have the time. Or that we need to be doing something, otherwise we are wasting time. We easily fall into the trap of taking God too seriously. I believe we don’t understand he simply likes being around us.

As I was talking with my young friend, God dropped this thought into my head,” Tell him I created him to have someone to have fun with.” That took me by surprise but as I shared it with him and later thought about it I realized God was giving me another reason why relationship and intimacy are so important to him.

Because we often take God so seriously we forget he also laughs, has a sense of humor and thoroughly enjoys having fun. How do I know this? Take a serious look at how he created us, male and female. Or, look at some of the wacky looking creatures he created. Who can’t look at a duck-billed platypus and not laugh. What about those silly looking penguins when they walk? Or, what’s more ridiculous looking than an Ostrich?

Here’s a thought; look at Jesus. He says that he is the exact representation of his Father. You want to know what God is like, look at Jesus. Look how he is described in the Bible. Granted he was on a mission but he also liked to have fun. He went to wedding parties that lasted days. He hung with a group of guys that were not religious prudes. Some were well educated but most were fishermen and men that we would classify as blue-collar workers. I can’t picture him walking around always looking like he was sucking on lemons. I wouldn’t want to hang around someone like that!

I believe what God was saying is, “You need to lighten up.” We have so shrouded him with mystery and awe that perhaps that’s part of the reason he sent Jesus to show us that he does enjoy hanging with us just being a friend. Abraham was called a friend of God. When I think about a friend, I think about someone I like being with. We laugh, we cry, we goof off. There are times we are serious and times we are silly. I realize that this kind of talk may upset some religious people but we have way too much of that kind of thinking. I completely understand that we must hold God in reverence and awe. He is worthy of our worship and trust. We must honor and respect him. But if He is truly my friend then that relationship must have some other elements if it is going to be what I understand to be friendship.

I also thought about what it means to have fun with God. Some of my most fun times are when I am out in His creation enjoying the sun, swimming, feeling the sand between my toes, the breeze gently blowing across my body as I lay in the sun listening to the sounds of the river. Think about this world he originally created perfect for us to enjoy. Although we messed that up he is going to bring about a new creation for us to dwell in that is going to be so perfect that we cannot even imagine what it would be like.

When I pray with people and see them healed nothing is more fun than that. God doesn’t need me to pray for people to be healed, He can heal them without me, but He lets me be a part, to participate along with Him. When I consider some of the healings I have seen it blows my mind.

In Genesis we read that after He finished creating this world He said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” Nothing else in all of creation is quite like us. Why is that? I think in part it’s because He wanted someone around that would enjoy what He had made and enjoy being with Him.

Here’s something to consider; if one reason God created you was just to be with you, how would you do that? Or think about what is fun for you or how you have fun with your friends? I think that what God was showing my young friend was to lighten up a little bit and enjoy this relationship. What might He be saying to you?

Thank you for your continued support and prayers.

God bless,

Mike

“Learning To Do What Jesus Did” is available on YouTube.

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Learning To Do What Jesus Did (9 parts)
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