7 Days of Meditation and Declarations for Every Son of Godናሙና

A Masculine Model of Friendship with God

A few years back, I attended a marriage enrichment seminar in which the speaker outlined some of the general differences between men and women. One, in particular, grabbed my attention and sent my thoughts galloping off in an unexpected direction.

He said, “Women generally grow and maintain friendships by talking together, but men usually grow and maintain friendships by doing things together.” I’d never heard that before, but the more I pondered it, the more I became convinced of its truth. It was certainly true for my wife and me and of most of the people we knew.

My amazing bride spends significant amounts of time on the phone, while I avoid phone conversations at all costs. When forced to converse, I keep it as short as possible. She frequently schedules talk-filled coffees and lunches to keep her key relationships nourished and healthy. Whereas my friends and I are more likely to schedule a golf or fishing outing, watch a game on TV, or make a joint trip to the home improvement store. Yes, talking invariably happens in the course of doing things with my friends. But the talking is an organic by-product of the doing.

I then thought about how I, and most men, were taught to have a relationship with God. I was told relationship with God meant sitting down and talking with Him. Sharing my feelings. And that these conversations needed to last a long time.

Wow! I thought. We might as well have told men to include a pot of chamomile tea and lace doilies! Sitting there in that marriage conference, a question hit me like a thunderbolt. Have Christian men been presented a feminine model for being a friend of God? I suspect so.

We need to explore ways to have a relationship with God by doing things with Him. To be sure, some of that “doing” will be in your private place of prayer. But there, you can walk boldly up to your Father and ask, “What do you want to do today, Lord?” And He’ll answer you.

Together, the two of you may do battle for your family. Yield yourself, and He may take you, by the Spirit, to some far corner of the world where you’ll partner with Him to advance His plans and purposes. Together you’ll fix things. Explore things. Fight His enemies.

And doing together need not end when you leave the place of prayer. He is with you all through the day, eager to partner with you in everything that comes your way. Didn’t Jesus call the Holy Spirit “The Helper”? And yes, you’ll talk, but that talking will be the organic by-product of doing—together.

Grace Declaration: Father, what do you want to do today? I’m up for anything. I’m just overwhelmed at the privilege of knowing You, working with you…of having been restored back to friendship with You. I can’t wait to get to know you better as we explore, repair, hunt, fish, and do battle…together.