Spiritual directors may begin a session with someone by saying: “Tell me about your relationship with God.” This may catch the client off guard; it may be a question they’ve never thought of before.
If you were to write a one-page journal entry describing your relationship with God and how this is evident in the way you pray, what would you say? Would you be lost for words? Why not try it out and share it with a trusted friend or spiritual mentor.
Sometimes when I read a Psalm, I am struck by the tone of intimacy that the Psalmist expresses with God. His words are not just nicely composed prayers; they reflect his close relationship with God. Today’s Psalm response (Psalm 25:4-5,8-10,14) is such an example.
He begins with a prayer:
“Your ways, O Lord, make known to me; teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God, my savior.”
These are not the words of someone who is writing to a distant deity or even the president of his country. They are words that are said in a one-to-one meeting between a humble man and his loving Lord. He is not “friendsy-wensy” with God but a humble disciple, who is not afraid to approach God.
He asks God to tutor him about life—to show him on day-by-day basis the best way to be happy. When he looks for instruction and guidance he does not search his own mind nor even ask a friend; he has the boldness to go directly to God, with whom he has a personal relationship.
Then the Psalmist turns to his listeners and tells them why they, too, will benefit by making a similar prayer to God.
“He guides the humble to justice; he teaches the humble his way.”
“All the paths of the Lord are kindness and constancy toward those who keep his covenant and his decrees.”
No need to be afraid that when we surrender our lives to the leading of the Lord that he will lead us down a wrong path or that he will be, in any way, harsh or inconsistent with us.
Finally, he gives out his secret.
“The friendship of the Lord is with those who fear him, and his covenant, for their instruction.”
Friendship! This is almost shocking to think that our great God would want to be friends with us. It is even more shocking that he wants to have a covenant relationship with us—equivalent to marrying us.
Yet this is exactly the desire of God’s heart. So much does he want to enter into this deep and most loving relationship with us that he sent his only Son to be one of us so that we could “see Him,” “listen to Him,” and “watch Him act.” Remember Jesus said “He who sees me sees the Father.” Who could be afraid of Jesus, except those who refused to humble themselves and become like little children.
Back to our original point: “Tell me about your relationship with God.” We ask:
• Do I feel close to God in friendship and covenant?
• Am I satisfied with my relationship with Him? How would I like it to grow?
• What can I learn from the writer of today’s Psalm?
“To you I call, for you will surely heed me, O God; turn your ear to me; hear my words” (Ps 17:6)
