Beloved, do you feel lonely right now? Do you wish you had a friend or two you could call with whom you could chat, spend time, laugh, cry, and pray?

Join others crying out to the Lord day and night.

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If so, you’re not alone. Friendlessness is an epidemic in the Body of Christ.

In today’s age of digital communication, fast-paced life, and overwhelming stressors coming at us from every side, many of us have gotten used to just going home and hiding after our day’s work is done. If we don’t practically run over people at work or church, too many of us don’t bother to build relationships with them. “Work friends” have replaced real friends, and true companionship is lacking.

But this is not the church that Jesus built.

The church that Jesus built was designed with community in mind.

As we read in Acts 2:42-47:

“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.

So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:42-47).

In the early church, people “did life” together. Companionship was an everyday thing. They relied upon each other, shared with one another, and were joined together in the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace. The love of God dwelt in their hearts, not only empowering them to worship God together, but also to love one another.

Friend, don’t you long to return to that kind of community and friendship?

If you’re lonely today, the Lord wants to give you covenant friends with whom you can share your life. Being or feeling isolated from the Body of Christ is not God’s will for you. And although there are many practical steps a person can take to find that kind of community and friendship, the journey begins with prayer.

If you want the Lord to give you covenant friends, would you pray about this deep need today?

Here’s a sample prayer you can adapt as needed to give voice to your own heart’s desire for friends:

“Dear Heavenly Father, I come to You in Jesus’ name.

Abba Father, Your Word says we should enter into Your gates with thanksgiving and into Your courts with praise.

I’m feeling sad and lonely today, so it’s hard for me to even pray at all. But I thank You for listening to me. Thank You that Your Holy Spirit is interceding for me with moaning and groaning which cannot be uttered, and You who search hearts know what the mind of the Spirit is.

Thank You for helping me pray right now, and for understanding even my inadequate words and thoughts as I come to You. I praise You for Your mercy and grace toward me, Lord God.

Heavenly Father, Your Word says that I should be anxious for nothing, but in everything, with prayer and supplication, make my requests known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. So Father, I come to You right now to cast my care upon You, for You care for me. You will never allow the righteous to be moved!

Father God, You know how lonely I am.

I feel so lonely right now, and I have for a long time. I don’t have any friends with whom I can share my life.

I do have acquaintances, Father—and I’m grateful for that. There are people who need me to help them. There are people who use me, even though I wish that weren’t the case. There are people who desire to benefit from my ministry. But I feel like I don’t have any real friends, Father; when I’m lonely and just want to spend quality time with a dear friend, there is no one I can call.

Father, I reject the spirits of self-pity and suicide, and I command every foul spirit to leave me right now in Jesus’ name. Father, please fill me with Your Holy Spirit in every place. Help me to keep my eyes on Jesus right now, even though I’m hurting and tempted to look down at myself.

But Father, I do ask for Your help. In the name of Jesus, I beg for Your mercy right now. Please, Lord:

• Send me close, covenant friends with whom I can share life.
• Please send me one true best friend whom I can consistently share time with, day in and day out.
• Please send me friends who want to spend time with me as much as I desire to spend time with them.
• Please send friends who love me as much as I love them.
• Please protect me from people who just want to use me.
• Please deliver me from pouring my heart into people who can’t be bothered to be around or be in actual relationship with me. This only results in hurt, Father, and I don’t want to hurt or be used anymore.

Heavenly Father, please send me a posse to run with.

Even if it’s only one or two people, Abba, I ask in Jesus’ name that You would send people of like heart, like spirit, and like destiny—kindred spirit friends with whom I can be close:

• Send people who understand me, and whom I also understand.
• Send people who are pioneers and intercessors like I am, but I pray that our conversation—although centered around you—would not be limited to things we are interceding for.
• Please send me friends with whom I can share all aspects of life, Father—trustworthy friends who have a heart to love me as I also love them.

Father God, I also ask right now in Jesus’ name that You would comfort me by Your Holy Spirit.

I’m so very lonely, Father. I need You. Please help me to feel Your presence and affection today. Let me sense Your arms wrapped around me today. Please hold me up and give me grace to stand one more day. I feel like I just want to hide from life and from the world, Father, for no human sees me or cares about me the way my heart desires.

Please help me, Father:

• Take away the loneliness.
• Heal my heart and soul.
• Minister to me as only You can, Abba.
• Touch me deeply with Your love.
• Fill me up with Your love in places so deep that I cannot even reach them.
• Baptize me anew and afresh with Your Spirit of adoption, that I may once again cry out “Abba! Father!” in the bliss of Your love.

I need You, Father. I have no one in Heaven and earth besides You, God. I need You. Please help me, and send me covenant friends who will be forever present in my life.

Thank You, Father. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.”

Beloved, if you feel all alone today, God sees you and He cares.

Of course He can and will be the only Person to truly fulfill you in your spirit man, but He also desires you to have close, covenant friends with whom you can share your life. Pray and believe Him for those friends; follow Him as He leads you to meet new people and start new relationships; and see what He does!

Did you pray for close, covenant friends today? Does this prayer sum up the desire of your heart in this area? If so, leave a comment below!

Jamie Rohrbaugh equips people to walk in the manifest presence of God. She is the author of Healing from Church Wounds: You Can Be Whole Again and How to Become an Intercessor: You Can Shake Heaven and Earth. She blogs for a global readership at FromHisPresence.com, where she writes about prayer, the prophetic word, living supernaturally, inner healing, and Kingdom wealth. Her writing is featured on YouVersion, Charisma Magazine, The Elijah List, Spirit Fuel, and various other ministry outlets. Download her free prayer tool, Praying the Names of God: 555 Biblical Names of God and How to Use Them in Prayer and Worship, here. Photo Credit: Helena Lopes on Unsplash.