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A Prayer for Bringing Our Friends to Jesus

     Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to take him inside to Jesus, but they couldn’t reach him because of the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, ”Young man, your sins are forgiven.” Luke 5:15-20 (NLT)

      Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for the all-weather friends you’ve given us—those who’ve stood with us in every season of life, through thick and thin, rapture and rupture, merriment and misery. Today, we return the favor. Though there are many ways to be a good friend, certainly one of the most important ones is faithfully to bring our friends to you. Thankful we don’t have to lift tiles, we run now to your occupied throne of grace. Hear our pleas, O wonderful, merciful Savior.

     We bring you our friends who know they don’t you, and our friends who think they know but don’t. Jesus, there is nothing we want more in life than for every member of our families, every one of our friends, and all of our neighbors to have a saving relationship with you. Give them that thirst; then give them yourself. 

     We bring you our believing friends who are suffering spiritual disconnect and crises of faith. Lord of the heart, please restore our friends to the joy of your salvation for them—to their first love, settled peace, and certain hope that you are enough. You’ve won us for eternity, but the battle for our hearts remains until the Day.

     We bring you our friends who are suffering in broken and messy relationships. Few things make us more vulnerable to emotional anguish, poor choices, and deep regrets. Jesus, center them with your peace and wisdom. Send grace in the shape of the real issues; and send us, as listeners and warriors of the heart.

     We bring you our friends who are suffering physical illness and chronic pain. Jesus, there are some stories over which we wish we could be sovereign for a moment, and fix the seemingly unfixable. Have mercy, O Lord, have mercy. We unabashedly ask for healing. We will not rely on ourselves, but on the God who raises the dead.

     For these friends, and others, Jesus, show us how to love well, stay present, and extend grace. So very Amen we pray, in your tender and triumphant name.

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