{"id":13238,"date":"2023-08-29T15:03:32","date_gmt":"2023-08-29T20:03:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.steveblaising.com\/content\/?p=13238"},"modified":"2025-05-27T18:05:45","modified_gmt":"2025-05-27T23:05:45","slug":"a-special-favor-from-friends-is-closer-than-you-think","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.steveblaising.com\/content\/a-special-favor-from-friends-is-closer-than-you-think\/","title":{"rendered":"A special favor from friends is closer than you think"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I needed a big favor recently from a good friend.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Favor
A good friend is always the best for a good favor\/Ben Michel\/Unsplash<\/mark><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Our air conditioning failed on a hot Sunday afternoon.  106 outside.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fans inside only stirred the misery. I knew hundreds would call the AC company on Monday morning, and I was desperate.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, I called my friend Jim, who referred me to this AC company months ago. Jim handles their commercial insurance and knows the owner well. I asked Jim if he\u2019d do me a favor and call the owner, Mike, and put me on Monday\u2019s list for service. Jim said he\u2019d do it right away.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A minute later, the AC company rang my phone, saying they\u2019d be there on Monday afternoon. Fantastic!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reminds me of three simple steps for getting a favor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Getting is in the asking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ever feel like you need a favor from God?  After all, good friends<\/a> do favors.  How about God?  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While He is holy and amazing in a realm of power and glory beyond human comprehension, God is available like a good friend.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have memorized and often thought about a statement by the Apostle Paul on favors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.\u201d  <\/strong>2 Cor. 1:8-11<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the Apostle Paul, who personally encountered Christ after his resurrection, says that favors from God come through prayers, then that\u2019s good news for us. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not a guarantee.  But, it’s always a possibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Friendship alerts favor<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGracious favor\u201d is like a special favor.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was encouraged by Jim’s willingness to call the AC company owner “right now.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clearly, Jim responded to my call because I match up to his liking as a good friend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can you be good friends with God<\/a>? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Biblical authors often refer to God or Jesus walking with friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n