From Enemies to Friends: The Invitation to Intimacy with God

Reflections on Chapter Eleven of The Purpose Driven Life

Chapter eleven opens with this statement, “God wants to be your best friend.”

In a world where we struggle to maintain meaningful human friendships, the ida that the Creator of the universe desires an intimate friendship with me feels almost too much to comprehend. Yet, here it is, plainly stated, backed Scripture, and offered to anyone willing to receive it.

From Enemies to Friends

What strikes hardest is the transformation Warren describes when we moved from being enemies of God to becoming His friends. It’s what Scripture calls a “close, trusted relationship.” The verse from 2 Corinthians 5:18 solidifies this by saying, “All is done by God, who through Christ changes us from enemies into his friends.” Wah!? Wow!

I find myself wrestling with the same question Warren poses “How is an intimate friendship possible between an omnipotent, invisible, perfect God and a finite, sinful human being?” My heart says yes to this friend request, but my mind struggles to grasp the “how” of it all. It’s easier to understand God as Master, Creator, or even Father, but friend? That requires a different kind of vulnerability and intimacy.

The answer, Warren suggests, lies in God’s grace and Jesus’ sacrifice. Unlike the Old Testament priests who spent hours preparing to approach God, we now have immediate access. This accessibility is both a privilege and an invitation, one that many of us; my self included, don’t fully embrace.

The Art of Constant Conversation

The first secret Warren shares resonates so deeply with my desire for a more integrated spiritual life: friendship with God is built through constant conversation. This isn’t about formal prayers or scheduled devotional times, though those have their place. This is about inviting God into every moment. While shopping, driving, working, or even taking out the trash.

I’m moved by what Warren shared from Brother Lawerence, he said, “The key isn’t changing what we do, but changing our attitude toward what we do. What we normally do for ourselves, we begin doing for God.” This is transformational the mundane turns sacred, making every moment an opportunity for fellowship with the Divine.

The practical suggestions Warren offers feel both challenging and achievable all at the same time. The idea of praying shorter, conversational prayers throughout the day rather than trying to maintain long, complex prayer sessions makes sense. Simple phrases like “You are with me” or “I’m depending on you” can become anchos that draw our attention back to God’s presence. I’m particularly drawn to the thought of chimes as an acknowledgment of God’s constant presence, like the Benedictine Monks use hourly.

What challenges me the most is the reminder that our goal isn’t a feeling of God’s presence, but a continual awareness of the reality that He is always present. This shifts the focus from my emotional experience to the objective truth of God’s faithfulness. Some days I may sense His presence acutely; other days I may feel nothing at all. But the friendship remains constant because it’s built on His character, not my feelings.

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The Practice of Continual Meditation

The second secret- Continual meditation of God’s Word- offers another pathway to deepening friendship with God. Warren’s comparison between worry and meditation makes a great distinction, he says, “When you think about a problem over and over in your mind, that’s called worry. When you think about God’s Word over and over in your mind, that’s meditation.”

Ultimately what he’s saying is, if I can worry (which I can), then I already have the skill set for meditation. I just need to redirect my mental energy from my problems to God’s promises. This feel both convicting and hopeful- convicting because it reveals how much time I spend ruminating on difficulties, and hopeful because it shows that the capacity for focused thinking is already there for me to utilize.

The verse Warren cites paints a picture of people who treasured God’s Words "more than daily bread” and couldn’t stop thinking about them. David wrote, “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.” This level of integration between Scripture and daily life seems foreign in our distracted age, yet it’s exactly what Warren suggests is necessary for deep friendship with God.

The Secret-Sharing Nature of Divine Friendship

One of the most intriguing aspects of this friendship is the promise that God shares His secrets with those who revere Him. Psalm 25:14 states, “Friendship with God is reserved for those who reverence him. With them alone he shares secrets of his promises.” This suggest that there are depths of understanding and intimacy available to those who pursue friendship with God- insights and revelations that casual acquaintances will never expeirence.

This makes me consider what it means to “revere” God in the context of friendship, the reverent awe of someone who recognizes the magnitude of who God is while simultaneously embracing the intimacy He offers. It’s holding both his transcendence and His immanence in perfect tension.

The Challenge of Integration

As I reflect on these concepts, I’m convicted by how compartmentalized my spiritual life has become. I have designated “God times” through morning devotions, Sunday worship, Bible study practices, but struggled to maintain that awareness of His presence throughout the ordinary moments of daily life. The invitation to friendship challenges this compartmentalization and calls for a more integrated approach to spiritual living.

The practical step I’m drawn to implement is the hourly reminder. Like the Benedictine monks who pause for “the hour prayer” when they hear the chimes, I am going to set regular reminders throughout my day to acknowledge God’s presence and engage in brief conversation with Him to cultivate the awareness that leads to deeper friendship with Him.

Moving Forward in Friendship

What moves me most about Warren’s teaching is that this friendship is both initiated by God and sustained by His grace. He’s the one extending the invitation; He’s the one who made it possible through Christ; and He’s the one who maintains faithfulness even when our attention wanders. This takes the pressure off performance and places it squarely on response- will we accept His invitation to friendship?

The two secrets Warren shares in this chapter, constant conversation and continual meditation, provide concrete ways to nurture this friendship. Just as our friendship with God grows through ongoing dialogue and reflection on His character and promises so to does our awareness grow on His constant presence.

As I close out this reflection, I’m still struck by the simple truth that the God of the universe, Creator of Heaven and Earth wants to be my friend. Not just my Savior, not just Lord over my life, but my friend. Someone who knows my struggles, celebrates my victories, and walks with me through every ordinary moment of life. This invitation to friendship doesn’t diminish His holiness or sovereignty; however, it does reveal the incredible depth of His love and the lengths He’ll go to pursue a relationship with me and you.

So, the question becomes will I accept the invitation and begin cultivating the space that nurtures this Divine friendship. Today I choose to say Yes! What will your response be?

This reflection is part of my 40-day journey through The Purpose Driven Life. You can explore the full series here → Purpose Driven Life Hub