Let us bring your dear friend to the Lord in prayer, asking that God draws them back to the fold of Christianity. It's important to remember that God wants all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 2:3-4 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; who desires all people to be saved and come to full knowledge of the truth.
As we pray, let's remind ourselves of the parable of the lost sheep. Just as the shepherd leaves the ninety-nine to find the one that is lost, so too does God desire to bring the lost back to Him.
Luke 15:4-7 "Which of you men, if you had one hundred sheep, and lost one of them, wouldn't leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one that was lost, until he found it? When he has found it, he carries it on his shoulders, rejoicing. When he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!' I tell you that even so there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance."
Let us pray:
Dear Heavenly Father,
We come before You today, lifting up our dear friend to You. Lord, they have walked away from the faith, hurt and in pain. We pray, Father, that You would comfort them, heal their wounds, and draw them back to You. Give us the wisdom and the words to speak life and truth to them, that they may know the hope to which You have called us.
Lord, we know that it is not Your will that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. So, we ask that You would send the Holy Spirit to convict them and draw them back to You. In Jesus' name, we rebuke any spirit of bitterness or unforgiveness that may be hindering them from returning to the faith.
Father, we ask that You would use us as vessels of Your love, that we may minister to them and show them the love of Christ. Help us to be a true friend to them, reflecting Your faithfulness even when they have walked away.
We pray these things to you as a body of believers.
In Jesus Christ's name, we pray. Amen.
Continue to be a light to your friend, showing them the love of Christ in all you do. Trust their salvation to the Lord because it's only by the name of Jesus that we have access to God.