Stay Close to Jehovah - CONTINUE DRAWING CLOSER TO JEHOVAH

 How did you become Jehovah's friend?  Through your study of the Bible, you came to know Jehovah more and developed a friendship with him.  This friendship is like fire that you want  to keep burning. Just as a fire needs fuel to keep burn, you need to continue learning about Jehovah to keep your friendship strong. - PROVERBS 2:1-5. 

As you continue to study the Bible, you will learn things that really touch your heart.  Notice how two of Jesus' disciples felt as Jesus was  explaining Bible prophecies to them.  They said:  "Were not our hearts burning within us as he was speaking to us on the road, as he was fully opening up the Scriptures to us" - LUKE 24:32.

Just as the disciples hearts were touched when they understood the Scriptures, you may have felt the same enthusiasm when you began to understand the Bible.  This helped you to know Jehovah and to love him. You do not want this love to grow cold. - MATTHEW 24:12.

Once you become a  friend of God, you need to work hard to keep your friendship strong. You must continue to learn about him and Jesus and to think about what you are learning and how you can apply it in your life.  (John 17:3)   When you read or study the Bible, ask yourself:  'What does this teach me  about Jehovah God? Why should I love him with my whole heart and soul? - 1 TIMOTHY 4:15. 

When you have a good friend, you talk to him regularly, and this keeps your friendship strong.  In the same way we talk to Jehovah regularly in our prayer, it keeps our love for him strong.   (Read 1 Thessalonians 5:17.)   Prayer  is a wonderful gift from our heavenly Father.  We should always speak to him from our heart.  (Psalm 62:8)  We should not repeat our prayers from memory, but we should really mean what we say. Yes, if we continue to study the Bible and pray from our heart, we will keep our love for Jehovah strong. 

Next time: Stay Close to Jehovah - TALKING TO OTHERS ABOUT JEHOVAH

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