A friend is drifting away...

[Thea]

You know the song of Casting Crowns "A prayer for a friend"..?

"...he's becoming a puppet of the world, to blind to see the strings...Lord, I lift my friend up to you..."

Well - I have a friend - who is drifting away... It all startet with his best friend moving away from town - and he startet spending alot of time with another friend - who is not a christian. After a while I noticed that he had changed. He saw movies that he would never have seen before, talking rude and un-suitable about violence and sex - I can not recognize him...

I feel like I have failed him as a friend. As a girl - with a boyfriend - I have not spent much time with him the last months - but now I see the changes in him - and it makes me scared!! It has been a long time since I spoke with him about Jesus and God..

What should I do?
Any point of views? Similar stories?

Anyone who knows any bibleverses about Gods promises towards those who prays for non-christan friends?

Thea

 

[Rene]

The same thing happened to me a few years ago - but God proved to be faithful as always!

My best friend (roommate in college) got involved with the wrong friends. This was after a great period when we grew in faith together and encouraged each other spiritually.
Then one day she became involved with the wrong friends - one of the guys became her boyfriend. I didn't want to be involved with them. Our friendship got a massive blow. I moved to a new flat and suddenly we had different interests. She started doing things she would never have done before. I felt terrible - but it was her choice. I prayed lot for her, but at first nothing changed.

College finished and our roads seperated. I never stopped praying for her though. I think I prayed for her for about two or three years, when one day I received a letter from her in the post. She found God again - much stronger this time, and asked forgiveness for the hurt she might have caused. She shared how God healed her from some past wounds she was never willing to reveal and how she loves Him and wants to lead a holy life for Him. It was an amazing moment!

Now, two years later we are still friends. She lives on the opposite side of the country, but we still have contact and encourage each other. Her first love is still Jesus Christ! Praise God!

 

[Thea]

Thank you, Rene!! What a beautiful story...!
I'll keep praying...
...sometimes its still difficult not doing something else too...

 

[Rene]

Sometimes we should just pray, sometimes we should pray and do something ...
You should ask God about this specific situation with your friend. Maybe God does want you to do something. I don't know.

Scripture that comes to mind is: (please read them in context)
Jude 1
"22Be merciful to those who doubt; 23snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh."

Ezekiel 33:7-9 (New International Version)
7 "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 8 When I say to the wicked, 'O wicked man, you will surely die,' and you do not speak out to dissuade him from his ways, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. 9 But if you do warn the wicked man to turn from his ways and he does not do so, he will die for his sin, but you will have saved yourself."