Hi
Ever thought about standing in the gap for someone before? Not sure whether it’s worth it – consider your take on Today’s Holy Nougat
““I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one.” Ezekiel 22:30 NLT
When a city’s walls were down, they were especially vulnerable. If there was no barrier between them and an enemy in war time, captivity was certain. They could be exiled, or left to suffer in their own lands which may not have the necessary provisions for sustainable livelihood. By extension, one presumes that artisans who were skilled in stonework, engineering or architectural design were valued for their ability to effect transformation as needed. Their skill was necessary for determining the extent of damage, type of repair work/support required and materials necessary for building or rebuilding the wall .
On the spiritual plain, there is also need for persons to do likewise for our countries and also for each of us as individuals. And the practice of interceding for someone, especially when the person is not in the position to effect transformation on their own is called ‘standing in the gap’. This does not require book knowledge (unless it’s the Word of God) as much as it requires a commitment to seek the heart of God. In the process one might ask God to assess the damage to the person’s spirit (fear, pride, insecurity, abuse, etc) and supply the necessary support in love to help the person to wholeness once again.
Sometimes I struggle with laying aside my own agenda for the sake of tending someone else’s issues. For my mind claims that I’d be better off just dealing with my own mess. But here’s the irony, we usually are only able to see what’s happening on one side of our ‘wall’. and so we each need someone to join us in protecting our boundaries so that any enemy attack does not leave us totally vulnerable. In protecting someone else’s boundaries therefore, we are also protecting our own boundaries. Even when the person seems way less spiritually gifted than we are.
Standing in the gap is often by request by humans; but is also a request by God. If we’re available. If we’re willing. If we’re listening. No need to worry about if we’re able; that’s God’s domain. For it is God who makes us righteous, not us.
Time to stand in the gap.
In Christ’s love and grace . . .
