I recently attended a graduation party where a lady pastor opened with prayer. She prayed in Luganda, and several times she affectionately referred to God as Mukwano Gwange (my friend).
You could sense that God was indeed her friend, for every time she said, “Mukwano gwange,” the words came forth with an unction of deep intimacy. She was not actually praying in the sense we religiously take prayer to be. This lady simply closed her eyes and started talking to Someone with whom she had a wonderful relationship. She did not tell God what is written in the books of Romans and Deuteronomy. No. She simply told Him how great He is, thanked Him for what He had done, and put the graduate’s future into His hands. Yet her words were not mere words – they carried the power of one who has authority before God by virtue of having a deep relationship with Him.
I do not know if you are evil like me, but sometimes you listen to people praying and you wonder when they will shut up and leave. You do not sense that they have a relationship with God. I believe many feel the same way towards me. However, that was not the case with this lady to whom God was Mukwano gwange. As she went on and on talking to her Friend, I never wanted her to stop. The atmosphere that had only moments prior been filled with evil songs, all of a sudden became heaven-like. My eyes were wide open, transfixed on her, and my ears were keenly attentive to every word she spoke. I had been given a lifetime opportunity to witness a person on earth holding a heartfelt conversation with a Friend in heaven. Man, you should have been there!
I left that party wondering whether I will ever know God as a friend. To a little degree, I know God as a Father, but sadly, I do not know Him as a buddy. If I also stood up to pray and addressed God as Mukwano gwange, it would all be a façade. But this one thing I know for sure, God can become a friend to a human being. I saw and heard for myself a lady who is God’s friend. She has attained that which Abraham achieved, for “he was called the friend of God” (James 2:23). Let all of us sincerely desire to become God’s friends. Perhaps, He will one day become Mukwano gwange to each one of us.
God bless you.