Friday, March 27, 2009

Friday Challenge

Hello and welcome to the blog!

As we journey to the cross I want us to really understand in our hearts what the cross is all about. What it represents, what is has done for us, what it means to us on a very personal level.

"I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none. Ezekiel 22:30 (NIV) (emphasis mine)

My heart desires that everyone come to see Jesus as the One who stood in the gap for them. I don't just want to be a girl who types these words out on a blog I want to be living this out. So what does that look like?


This weeks Friday Challenge: Stand in the gap


Standing in the gap means to pray for them, love them, help lead them to the heart of God.

Standing in the gap is NOT about being righteous or having an attitude of 'I have arrived and now I will have pity on every one else'.

Standing in the gap is desiring for everyone to join you in relationship with God. A God who has a grace and loved filled relationship with their name on it!


Is there someone you can stand in the gap for?

Someone you can pray for?

Someone you know who needs to meet Jesus?

I am praying hard today for a friend. She is shackled by shame, guilt and doubts. I am praying God will surround her with a grace that breaks the chains that hold her captive. I am praying she will allow Him to pick her up and turn her eyes to Him. Praying she will step away from that which holds her captive and grab her Fathers hand, a hand that has been tattooed-pierced just for her. I pray she will dance freely with Him. Freely lavished in His love!

I know there are many people in my life who have stood in the gap for me-Amen!

Who needs you to stand in the gap?

A spouse?

A co-worker?

A child?

A friend?

A sister-in-law?

A cousin?

A brother?

A parent?


Or maybe you come today needing someone to stand in the gap for you. Leave an anonymous comment if you feel led and there will people who will stand in the gap for you. I will, and I know there are many friends and family members who will join me!


This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 1 John 3:16 (NIV)

9 comments:

Krista said...

Thank you for that reminder today! Yes, there is ALWAYS someone I can stand in the gap for and today I am encouraged to not let the opportunity pass w/o praying for those that need my prayers.

Being faithful in prayer,
Krista

Nicole said...

Yes, there are definetly people I can stand in the gap for.

Thank you for the challenge and reminder.

Love ya,
Nicole

Leslie said...

This is the second time in the last 24 hours that that particular passage from Ezekiel has been put before me. Hhmmm.....I wonder what I'm supposed to be doing?

Kimberly said...

How blessed your friend is to have you praying for her. And I know you don't have the attitude of "yes, indeed, she is certainly blessed by me." You are ever so humble. But it IS such a blessing to have a friend who will stand in the gap for you. I am so thankful for all of those who have done so for me.

I will be lifting up your friend, too, and praying Isaiah 61 for her...it's a favorite of mine...being a captive set free myself. :)

You are a precious daughter of the King!
:) K

Tea with Tiffany said...

You always bless and offer words of HIS life to others through your blog. Thank you for this Friday challenge. This is where GOD shows up, when we stand in the gap for others. He hears our cries.

Thank you for the reminder to intercede for those we know and love. And even for those that we don't know personally, but we hear they need prayer.

Prayer makes a difference.

Hugs to you, sweet friend,

Tiffany

achildoftheking said...

Nichole,

Your post goes very nicely with my very own post today.

The Lord is reaching out for the lost. I stand in the gap daily and will continue to do so.

Lord Jesus, I lift up to You the one who will stop by here and read Nichole's post. I pray that You will lay Your warm & loving hand upon their soul. They need You Father. I pray they will reach for You and take Your hand and You will hold them and comfort them through their ordeal Father God. I thank You in advance for hearing and answering my prayer. In Jesus' holy precious name, amen.

Joyful said...

Nichole I learned this verse at a very young age. It has special significance in my family.

My Dad, who at that time was employed for a company, was feeling the call into the ministry. He did not enjoy his job, and was certain that the Lord was calling him into full-time service to be a Pastor. Up until this time, he often spoke as a lay-Pastor, but not full-time.

The morning that a decision had to be made my Dad read this verse in Ezekiel. "I looked for a man who would..stand before me in the gap...but I found none". The Lord revealed to my Dad that He desired him to have a "gap filling" ministry - to be available to step in when ministers went on vacation or became suddenly ill etc...

This kept Dad busy, keeping a full-time job and speaking all but two Sunday's a year, but he knew he was exactly where the Lord had led him.

God calls all of us to fill the gap on behalf of others. I will continue to stand in the gap for you, praying for you and the needs you have shared. You have often sent words of encouragement and stood in the gap on my behalf.

Standing in the gap,
Joy

From the Heart said...

A great post, Standing in the Gap.
Several years ago I felt impressed by God to prayer for the extended families of mine and my husband's family. There are so many that don't know Jesus as their Savior. I have seen several come to know Him since I started praying this prayer and some of those have already gone to meet their maker. To God be the glory.
You are in my prayers also.

My husband needs a healing. He's having some back problems. He's had problems with his back before but God always brought him through them and I'm praying God will heal him so he doesn't have to have surgery.
Thanks and blessings to you,
AliceE.

Technonana said...

What a beautiful post, and reminder that we all need someone praying for us and lifting us up before the throne of grace!!
I am praying especially for my soon to be son-in-law, that he will come to know the abundant life that Christ died to give him.
He knows Him as his Savior, but has yet to understand the awesomeness of God's Unconditional Love!!