I did not feel like praying this morning. I’m right smack in the middle of writing a 21 day prayer challenge, and the words just wouldn’t come as I tried to pray. Even with a prayer guide in front of me, my thoughts seemed empty. Even with a list of prayer needs right before my eyes, the needs felt far from my heart.
Have you ever felt that way? Someone please tell me I’m not the only one. Surely someone else has experienced the frustration of wanting to converse with God but just not knowing what to say. Perhaps you, too, sometimes feel as if there is a gap between you and God. Thankfully, getting close to God is possible because of one simple truth.
Jesus fills the gap.
Right now, He stands at the right hand of God the Father interceding for you and for me (Romans 8:34).
To intercede is “to intervene on behalf of another”, “to speak to someone in order to defend or help another person”.
Interceding is standing in the gap between two other people.
Intervening is intentionally stepping into that gap.
In the midst of writing this, conflict erupted between two of my children. The conflict involved a shared bedroom, one child still sleeping, exhaustion from being up too late, and Legos.
Feel free to imagine the rest.
The result: anger, hurt, a gap between siblings.
They couldn’t close the gap on their own.
I intervened. I intentionally stepped into the gap to comfort the hurt and calm the anger.
I interceded. I cried out to God that He would work in their hearts because that is a job Mom just can’t do.
On days like today, I am thankful that I have Jesus standing in the gap, interceding for me with God the Father. But He’s not the only one. The Holy Spirit intercedes for me when I don’t know what to pray.
“In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”
Romans 8:26
Thank You, Jesus. Thank You, Holy Spirit. We can rest knowing that the gap between us and God Almighty is filled.
There is a world full of people who need someone interceding on their behalf before God’s throne. Jesus has given us, His Church, the privilege of standing in the gap for them.
There are many people for whom He urges us to intercede.
Pray for believers (Ephesians 6:18)
Pray for your enemies (Matthew 5:44)
Pray for the sick (James 5:15)
Pray for those in authority (I Timothy 2:1-2)
Pray for your children (Lamentations 2:19)
Jesus is interceding for you.
When you don’t know what to pray, rest assured that the Holy Spirit intercedes for you.
Let’s follow their example: Who do you know that needs you to stand in the gap, to intercede on their behalf?
Today’s Heart Challenge:
Stand in the gap for someone.
Ask God who He wants you to intercede for right now. Spend a few minutes praying for them.
Then take it one more step. Call/text/e-mail them and let them know you prayed for them.
Today’s Homeschool Prayer:
Technology
Oh, this is a big one! I won’t even begin to describe the unrest that technology can bring into our homeschools. But we cannot underestimate the benefits it also brings.
I have no great answers for you. We are struggling through taming technology in our home and have much to learn. But one thing I know: Jesus can bring us to a place of rest – even with technology.
So let’s seek Him first in this potentially unrestful area.
Seek Jesus first. He can give rest to your heart in the midst.
Write out your prayer as you evaluate, surrender and receive rest in your family’s use of technology.
EVALUATE
- Ask yourself if this area of your homeschool life is currently restful.
- Ask God to reveal any cues of unrest in your heart.
SURRENDER
- Surrender your efforts to fix the problem.
- Surrender your expectation of the outcome.
RECEIVE
- Ask God to give you grace and rest in the midst of your current struggle.
- Ask Him to give you guidance for ONE THING you can do to cultivate rest in this area.
Keep seeking Him first!
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