Friendship is God's way of loving us through someone else

My friend shared his concern for a new believer in Christ who lives in the muslim world. He and his family is in crisis, and crisis feels out of control and God can seem far away. My immediate response is that we need to bring the situation to the Lord who is able to do more than we can ask or imagine (Eph 3:20), to cast our cares on Him because he cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). To have faith beyond our current world (Heb 11) with eyes on Jesus and God's city (Heb 12).  My life verses when I was new believer was Philippians 4:4-7, with 1 Peter 4:7-11. A life verse is something you meditate on, contemplating it's truth in your life until the peace of God that transcends understanding guards your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. We stand in understanding, instead of fight or flight. 

BSF has taught me the ABC of Urgent Prayer Care. A: Address the situation, B: Bring God in, C: Communicate Hope. I've been enjoying friendships with a deeper understanding of the Gospel of Jesus. John 13:20 listen to Jesus, "whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me." Don't call it friendship evangelism, call it "God's way of loving us through someone else."

A) Pray back the situation and what emotions or perspectives are blocking the peace and calm of the Holy Spirit. In the prayercourse.org we call this part, keep it simple, keep it real, keep it going. A friend once told me if after prayer you still feel stress, anxiety, anger or similar emotions, you haven't prayed but only complained to God. This is why we need to go two steps further - Bring God in and Communicate Hope. 

B) In crisis, the key to lasting calm is the control of the Holy Spirit. (Read Romans 8:6: "So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace."). Bring God in. What do they need in a crisis? God’s attributes and an awareness of His presence. I love Romans 8:1-17, what Good News! We belong to Christ Jesus and the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed us from the power of sin. God declared an end to sin's control by Jesus atoning sacrifice on the cross. We give our lives to Christ and no longer dominated by sinful nature but controlled by the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:12 reminds us, we have no obligation to do what our sinful nature urges us to...all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 

C) In crisis, we need a reason to continue. (Read Psalm 31:24). Communicate hope. What truth or promises from God’s Word are needed? Romans 8:15-17, "So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.