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My granddaughter Ava, 7 years old, was spending the day with me and as usual there were a lot of laughs. I love to laugh, and she definitely brings out the best in me. The silliness goes on and on! In the middle of our day she asked me a question very seriously, “Nanny, who is your best friend?”

I gave it serious thought and could think of special people who have stuck with me through thick and thin. People I cannot imagine my life without, yet, in my heart I was searching for a “best friend.” Who gets that title in my heart? I said to her, “Jesus.” She said, “I know that Nanny, but who else?” I laughed with happiness because first of all, she knew it! Secondly, because Jesus was right there with us having fun and bringing all that joy and love he carries around and hands out to those who love him.                

We don’t need to make our relationship with God complicated. He provided everything for us to have a tender, loving relationship with him. How much love does God the Father have for us? Well, he loved you enough to send his Son Jesus to walk and teach you how to live. Jesus taught us how to live for the Father (John 14:31).

Jesus did everything to please the Father. Jesus spoke to his disciples and told them, “If you really knew me, you would also know the Father as well.” Jesus wanted them to see the Father through the very person he was. Then Jesus said something very interesting. “It is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.” When you know Jesus, understand Jesus, you also know and understand God the Father (John 14:1-14).                

When Jesus was getting ready to approach the cross, he sat with his disciples and told them, “Do not let your hearts be troubled” (John 14:1). Right now, with everything going on in the world, how much peace is in these words? What Jesus was telling the twelve that day was meant just as much for us today. Jesus’ next words are what God desires to hear from us, “Trust in God, trust also in me” (John14:2). Trust, God longs to draw us near, but we must first trust him. Tell him you trust him to handle your burdens, to watch over your children, to keep you safe, to walk with you and guide you every day. God’s love is everlasting to his people. His love abounds. Tell him you trust him (Jeremiah 31:3-4).                

Jesus told his followers that day that he would be leaving them soon, but God would send someone else, a counselor, the Spirit of truth. He would come to live in their hearts and be with them always. You see, God provided a guide for us, the third person of God. The Holy Spirit comes to live with us and in us when we accept Jesus into our hearts. It is by the power of the Holy Spirit that the Father and Jesus come to live with us. This is how we are able to have a close relationship with God (John 14:15-31).                

 Comfort, that is what Jesus was doing that day to prepare the disciples for what was to come. Jesus wanted to please the Father in every way. Even to die on a cross to reconcile us to God. Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends” (John 15:13).

You see, Jesus came to live in my heart when I was just a child. When I heard his story and what he did for me. I felt his gentleness, kindness, love and devotion to the Father and I cried because he died on that cross for me. I was only six years old and Jesus became my best friend.