1 Samuel 18:3-4 And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.

After defeating Goliath, David was suddenly on the national stage. Everyone was amazed at the young man who had flattened the giant with one stone. Behind the scenes stood Jonathan, the crown prince.

He saw something in David that he recognised. It was not only David’s courage to fight Goliath. He also saw a heart that trusted in God. That is why the text says that Jonathan loved David as himself and that they made a pact with each other, as the saying goes.

Jonathan then did something very special. He took off his cloak and gave it to David along with his equipment. It was not just a gesture to confirm their friendship, but rather a symbolic act.

The cloak and the rest of his equipment represented his status as prince and future king. By giving it to David, he was actually giving up something of himself and his claim to the throne. In a way, he was acknowledging God’s hand in David’s life, and choosing to align himself with God’s plan for him. Placing God’s plan above his own, he stepped back in humble surrender.

It’s hard to just give everything up these days. We have dreams. We have plans. Nobody wants to stay stuck in place. We have ambition. We want to reach the highest peak and make a success of our lives.

And there’s nothing wrong with that. Trouble begins when our human plans clash with the work God desires to do through us. Jonathan was willing to give up what was precious to him, rather than get in the way of what God was busy doing.

True friendship brings a person closer to God. There are times when we also have to take off our cloak, our own plans, our pride, our need for control and even agendas that are not always so pure, so that God’s will can be done in our lives.

This is where a true friendship with God is built. A friendship in which you can feel safe, because you know He will not leave you. Then the storms may come, because your relationship with God will help you get through them.

Prayer
Father, thank you for being my friend and for keeping your guiding hand on my shoulder through every misstep and mistake. You are a true Friend …

Questions
Do my friends help me live closer to God, or do they pull me away from Him?
Is there something I struggle to surrender to God, such as my pride, my plans, or my need for control?
Am I willing to choose God’s will over my own ambitions?

Do this now
Send a message or connect with a friend today who builds you up spiritually and thank them for it.
Also, think honestly about one area where your own plans may be getting in the way of God, and consciously surrender it to Him in prayer.
Then do something practical that shows you are choosing God’s will over your own pride or control, even if it is just saying sorry first or putting someone else’s need first.