Standing in the Gap: Who are you praying for?

Who are you praying for? Who is praying for you? As Christians, we owe it to one another to always stand in the gap for others. No matter how short the prayer is, standing in the gap for others is a powerful weapon.

Standing in the gap, means: to expose one's self for the protection of something; to make defense against any assailing danger; to take the place of a fallen defender or supporter (according to the dictionary)

When you pray for others, you call on to God on their behalf. It can be asking God to have mercy on them. For God to give them increased wisdom, strength, grace etc. It can be prayer of divine protection from the devices of the evil one. We have heard testimonies of people who received salvation because their grandmother, parents, or friends stood in the gap- praying for God to show them His salvation. Many lives have been saved from destruction, sickness and disease because someone somewhere was praying for them.

Instead of condemning others, stand in the gap for them.

When our prayers reaches the powerful God who answers prayers, there is a miraculous turn around, always.

The Holy Bible gives examples of how people stood in the gap for others. One of which is in the book of Exodus.

Exodus 4:24-26
New International Version (NIV)
²⁴ At a lodging place on the way, the Lord met Moses^[a] and was about to kill him. ²⁵ But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin and touched Moses’ feet with it.^[b]“Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,” she said. ²⁶ So the Lord let him alone. (At that time she said “bridegroom of blood,” referring to circumcision.)

When you read this passage for the first time, the first question that may pop into your mind is, "WHY will God want to kill Moses (him)? Is he not the "chosen one"? The man who was going to lead the children of Israel to the promise land? Why will the same God who called him, groomed him, and instructed him all of a sudden want to kill him?

We know our God is a righteous God. Perhaps Moses sinned against Him by not living according to the standard he was setting for the Israelite. In the passage, we are told that the minute Zipporah circumcised their son and touched Moses' feet with the blood, God let him go. This is the act of interceding. Zipporah stood in the gap for Moses and the plague of death passed over him. 

If Zipporah had slept through the battle, perhaps we would have been telling another story today. Thank God for the power of standing in the gap!

Who are you praying for? Who is praying for you? If God search for a man, will he find one?

"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

Please, always remember to stand in the gap for others. I am learning too. God is our strength!

I love this song:

Standing in the Gap by Babbie Mason

I heard that you were hurting

That you were suffering pain

But I didn't dare just turn my head

And look the other way

For when your heart is aching

My heart is aching too

Let me help you bear your burden

That's the least that I can do

CHORUS

I'll be standing in the gap for you

Just remember someone, somewhere is praying for you

Calling out your name

Praying for your strength

I'll be standing in the gap for you

Right now you may be troubled

But everything will work out fine

For the Spirit knows before you speak

What is on your heart and mind

So I'll be interceding

Til your standing strong again

The peace that passes understanding

Is going to be yours, but until then

CHORUS

BRIDGE

So hang on my friend

It won't be long

And you have the strength

To carry on

For when two or three are walking together

It will be a much lighter load

For isn't that what a brother and a sister are for...


GOD BLESS YOU! Have a great week!!

The Help of a Stranger, Gives Speed

The help of a stranger is what keeps our world spinning with kindness. The help of a stranger gives speedThe help of a stranger receives great reward

Reuel's seven daughters set out one morning to fetch water for their father's flock. But some bully came by and chased them away. But a stranger who witnessed the injustice came to their rescue. Moments later, they were able to water their father's flock.  All done with the day's business, they happily swung back to town.

Perhaps in the past the bullies usually cause these ladies delay in minding their father's business. Because when they got home their father was surprise to see them back so early. A stranger's help gave them speed! They narrated the story to him. And yes, their father asked them to go invite the helper to dinner!

Have you ever experienced the kindness of a stranger? That moment you find yourself in a hot mess, when fear and anxiety overwhelms you. Only for you to turn around and find a kind hand stretched out, ready to give you a lift, out of your mess!

Or maybe you have been or you are that kind person offering help to strangers. Please don't stop.
And if you, at one point in your life, experience the help of a stranger, please extend the kindness to others- pay it forward. But don't forget to appreciate the stranger, like the Priest encouraged his daughters to invite Moses for dinner.

The story:

16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters. And they came and drew water, and they filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. 17 Then the shepherds came and drove them away; but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.
18 When they came to Reuel their father, he said, “How is it that you have come so soon today?”
19 And they said, “An Egyptian delivered us from the hand of the shepherds, and he also drew enough water for us and watered the flock.”
20 So he said to his daughters, “And where is he? Why is it that you have left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread.”
21 Then Moses was content to live with the man, and he gave Zipporah his daughter to Moses. 22 And she bore him a son. He called his name Gershom,[b] for he said, “I have been a stranger in a foreign land.”  

EXODUS 2:16-22 via BibleGateway

This week, may you experience the help of a stranger! May God open your heart to indeed be kind to others around you. Spread His love around!!

Happy living!!

Hello Mr. Water Pass Garri (Spoken words)

Hello mr water pass garri, 

Why do you sit there looking at me as if I’m heaven?
I know, the problems you carry
are heavy, I mean really heavy.

You have been in that position for the past 52 years-
Squatting over one hand of garri in a one liter bowl filled with 75cl of water.
Counting them in days, that will be 18,980 days plus extra for the leap years.
Your brothers across the border
Are worried about you.

Look around you Mr water pass garri,
No, not in the direction of those beautiful maidens!
Look around at the virgin land behind your backyard.
Do you doubt it is fertile?

But how can you tell
When you have never ploughed and planted?
Can there be a harvest if you do not sow a seed?
18,993 days is gone man, and that one hand of garri in a one liter bowl filled with 75cl of water is not rising!

It is time for you to rise and try something new-
Like farming for more cassava to have abundance of garri
That you so much crave for.
And have enough for the babies unborn
You will not have to worry.

Tighten your sandals to your feet, for your road will be rough.

No man is heaven- so keep your eyes on almighty God at all times.
I would have wished you good luck
But I hear the luck changes after a new pair of designer shoes.
But pick up and keep going
We are at the top waiting for you!

(c) Jennifer Ehidiamen

Spoken words