Friendly-Fire...Not-So-Friendly-Fire

It's so hard to see someone you love beaten down, defeated, basically with a crushed spirit. You feel really helpless to know what to do to help them (at least that's how I feel in that situation). Especially when it seems they have inadvertently been dragged into a 'battle' which they didn't even choose to be a part of. Just kinda got 'hit' in the so-called 'friendly-fire' which went on between the people around them.

Proverbs 18:14,19,21
A man's cheerful heart gives him strength when he is sick. You can't keep going if you have a broken spirit...A broken friendship is harder to deal with than a city that has high walls around it. And arguing is like the locked gates of a mighty city...Your tongue has the power of life and death. Those who love to talk will eat the fruit of their words.

As I've thought about this, I've been led to many scripture passages...these are just a few of them. They talk about if the people around you are truly friends, then they will be there with you through all things. They'll see through the smoke-screens and know who you truly are in character and spirit, despite all the things which might fly around. They say that you need to have a cheerful heart...it's good medicine and helps to make you healthy. That a broken spirit will dry you up...that you can't keep on going in this life if your spirit is broken.

Despite reading all these words, I still have to admit that it's hard sometimes. As I walk alongside this very special person, I see how crushed they are and how it is affecting their spirit. But I understand, considering the circumstances, as to why they are at the place they are. There are going to be times when we do go into the valleys and places where we are battled and tested.

Proverbs 17:17,22,27
A friend loves at all times. He is there to help when trouble comes...A cheerful heart makes you healthy. But a broken spirit dries you up...Anyone who has knowledge controls his words. A man who has understanding is not easily upset.

I guess the thing to remember is this...we might not be able to truly know where people are at each stage in life. But we can walk alongside them despite that...be the true friend they need us to be. We can encourage them with the words of God's love and peace in all circumstances and situations. We can be lifting them up in prayer and letting them know that we'll be there for them in whatever way they need us to be.

Psalm 34:17-20
Godly people cry out, and the Lord hears them. He saves them from all of their troubles. The Lord is close to those whose hearts have been broken. He saves those whose spirits have been crushed. Anyone who does what is right may have many troubles. But the Lord saves him from all of them. The Lord watches over all of his bones. Not one of them will be broken.

You know, tonight I went to prayer with an awesome group of friends. I haven't been attending these prayer nights the past month...it was so refreshing and uplifting to be back with everyone again. The scripture below was one of the passages of scripture read tonight as we started. It speaks so much truth as to what the church needs to be to each other and those in the world around them. We need to live a life which overflows with love and with a love that never quits growing. We need to be an unified front who comes together in love and works together for the common purpose of selflessly serving the Lord throughout every aspect of our lives. That's what this life needs to be...not one that's filled with 'friendly-fire' and 'not-so-friendly fire' attacks that come without warning and a lot of times, with no real and concreted purpose. We need to get our priorities straight and start living this life with the realization of what's truly important. Really, until we begin doing this on a daily basis, I don't think you'll ever truly see unification in our churches and in our world!

Philippians 1:3-11
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy. I am happy because you have joined me in spreading the good news. You have done so from the first day until now. I am sure that the One who began a good work in you will carry it on until it is completed. That will be on the day Christ Jesus returns. It is right for me to feel this way about all of you. I love you with all my heart. I may be held by chains, or I may be standing up for the truth of the good news. Either way, all of you share in God's grace together with me. God can give witness that I long for all of you. I love you with the love that Christ Jesus gives. I pray that your love will grow more and more. And let it be based on knowledge and understanding. Then you will be able to know what is best. You will be pure and without blame until the day Christ returns. You will be filled with the fruit of right living produced by Jesus Christ. All of those things bring glory and praise to God.