Standing in the Gap for Oregon

Image by  Free-Photos  from  Pixabay   Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,  I Timothy 2: 1-3 I got my voter’s pamphlet for the May 19, 2020 primary in the mail the other day. I switched from non-affiliated voter to a political party a few years ago just so I could vote in the primary. It is important to vote in the main election, of course, but the primary is the first winnowing for those who wish to be our elected leaders. We vote on who runs! As I glanced through the pamphlet it occurred to me this is a ready-made prayer list. We can pray for individuals before they are even elected – what an opportunity! The booklet contains a lot of information, including the platform of each political party and a list of

No weapon formed against you shall prosper.  Isaiah 54:17 Image by  Pete Linforth  from  Pixabay Please note that it does not say the weapons won’t be formed; it says they won’t prosper. We will face battles, but we will win. First, though, we have to Show Up. Report for duty. Locked and Loaded. To stand in the gap is to show up prepared and in proper tactical gear. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.    Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righte

Image by  falco  from  Pixabay   Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,   for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.    For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,  I Timothy 2: 1-3 Many of us are familiar with the admonition to pray for “all who are in authority.” “Kings” would indicate civil authorities, those in government. It may mean more, but this will do for now. Paul, in this passage of I Timothy, sounds serious about this, admonishing us to not just say general prayers, but  supplication s and  intercessions and  giving of thanks . Deep prayers. Real prayers. Confession: I find it much easier to pray, even supplicate, intercede and give thanks for, those political leaders I  like . You know, the ones I voted for and who legislate for my favorite causes, who line up with my political beliefs an

Image by  Pexels  from  Pixabay   O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.  Daniel 9:19 What does it mean to “stand in the gap?”  The basic meaning is one of “intercession,” or the act of intervening for another. Very quickly, when we begin to unpack the details of interceding for our state or “our people,” we find ourselves face to face with one of the most difficult concepts for all people on the planet: repentance. Repentance means more than sorrow and regret; it means a complete turn around, a change of direction away from our own ways and toward God. However, as difficult, as humbling, as repentance is, there is no escaping it. II Chronicles 7:14 says if we turn from our  wicked ways , He will  forgive our sins , and then – only then – will He heal our land. The truth is, genuine repentance is a bitter pill. We try to weasel, like a child caught with a hand in the cook

Image by  congerdesign  from  Pixabay   Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.  I Timothy 2: 1-3   This post is a bit of "housekeeping" before we really get into the nitty-gritty. A friend once told me she divided her prayer list up into the days of the week: one day for family, one for the nation, one for missionaries, etc. I was shocked as I had assumed you had to pray for everything on your list  every day . Not so. Rule number one of prayer and prayer lists – there are no rules. We won’t insist on keeping a journal, or praying an hour a day, or getting up at the crack of dawn, although those things work for some. But – on the other hand – we do want to explore who, what and how to pray for Oregon. S

And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.  Ezekiel 22:30 This has been a difficult project to start, and yet one I feel strongly compelled to do. First, it has been difficult to see that my efforts are truly needed. There are a lot of prayer groups, pages and blogs already out there, calling for united prayer over Oregon, as well as the whole country. Why yet another? But I think I need to add whatever is unique about my experience and insight to the mix, not in an attempt to “do it better,” but to bring another voice into agreement:  Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken . Ecclesiastes 4:12 We need to combine our spiritual insight and experience, not be in competition. Second, it was oddly difficult to come up with a name. “Standing in the gap” is not particularly original, and the