Standing in the Gap - Praying for One Another
Scripture calls us “stewards” and most often we think of stewardship as it relates to money or other types of material resources. But the word “steward” has a broader meaning.
We are called to stand in the gap for the needs of people. And we are to steward that responsibility well as God has entrusted it to us.
Will you?
Standing in the Gap - Praying for the President
Are you praying for the President?
As believers, we are admonished to pray for our leaders - whether we align with them politically and convictionally or not. Why?
Paul’s letter to Timothy gives us three reasons we should stand in the gap for the ones in governmental authority.
Standing in the Gap - Praying for Your Enemies
Persecution has always existed and according to Scripture, it will continue to grow as we await the return of Jesus.
In Acts 7, Stephen stood in the gap between his enemies and God, and God answered by calling the apostle Paul from darkness to light!
How can you stand in the gap for your enemies?
Standing in the Gap
Conrad Huddleston, a friend of my dad’s, once told me, “David, I have asked God to allow me to take some of your Dad’s pain so that he might not have to carry so much.” He and my dad prayed together and shared one another’s burdens. I understand now that he was standing in the gap between my dad and God. He was praying for my dad and carrying Dad’s burdens to God.
Does anyone stand in the gap for you? Are you standing in the gap for someone? What does “standing in the gap” for someone mean? Read more in the first entry of a new blog series “Standing in the Gap.”
Guarding the Landmarks: Victory and Freedom
“It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1
Are you living under the burden of being a slave to sin when you have been set free from its power to live in freedom and victory? You don’t have to live that way - you can be free!
Guarding the Landmarks: Fatherhood
The word “father” evokes all kinds of images. For some, like myself and GIna, it is a warm word, an encouraging word, and a comforting word. They strengthened us, comforted us, and disciplined us in the love of Christ. For others, however, the word “father” brings up terrible memories, and can negatively impact the perception of a Heavenly Father.
Psalm 103 describes our Heavenly Father’s compassion toward and leads us to understand why fatherhood is a landmark that needs to be guarded in our culture today.
Guarding the Landmarks: The Gospel
Have you ever had a phone call where the sound was distorted? Maybe there was interference on the line and you could hear the person’s voice, but there was so much static that you couldn’t understand him? Or there was so much noise in the background that you couldn’t clearly hear the person trying to talk with you?
Distortion is annoying when it comes to phone calls, but dangerous when it comes to the Gospel of Christ. The Gospel is a landmark of truth that must be guarded.
Guarding the Landmarks: Immovable Truth
When surveys are conducted on property, starting points of one person’s property line and ending points of another person’s property line are determined. Without these landmarks, chaos and confusion rule.
As the culture pushes, moves, shifts, and sometimes attempts to erase the boundary of truth, it is crucial to know the truth of God’s Word and stand firm in that immovable truth!
Guarding the Landmarks
What happens if the boundary landmarks of a plot of farmland get removed? No one knows where his property ends and hers begins, and confusion and conflict take over.
I believe we are seeing this principle right before our very eyes in our world today. We are watching the ancient landmarks and ancient boundaries being moved. And the result is confusion and conflict.
Standing Near the Cross: Gina Bicknell Smith
Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies. Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. Proverbs 31:10-12
I don’t know of a better Christian than Gina. Her life is marked by joy, wisdom, mercy, kindness, forgiveness, and vision. She is standing by the cross through faith and with joy even in grief.
Standing Near the Cross: Caryl Easterday Smith
“I didn’t sign up for this!” It simply means that whatever the difficulty you are facing, this is not what you envisioned and not what you would have wanted.
For my mom, it was just the opposite. From the beginning of her marriage to Dad with his health issues, she “signed up” for a life of trouble and challenges. And although I am sure she didn’t face every day without some fear, she has been standing by the cross faithfully, and still lives each day in the strength of her Savior.
Standing Near the Cross: Anna Smith Wilson
Meet Anna. Anna is our daughter, married to Nate and mom to three of our grandchildren. When Anna chose to be strong and courageous and move across the country to attend college at Taylor University, she was “standing by the cross.” Anna is faithful to everyone she encounters and everything she endeavors. She continues to stand by the cross as she faithfully serves her family, her church, her clients at the gym, and her friends.
Standing Near the Cross: Kaitlin Patterson Smith
Meet Kaitlin. She is married to our son, Will, and is mom to three of our grandchildren. In this series of sharing women of influence who are “Standing Near the Cross” of Jesus, I want you to know about Kaitlin and how she exemplifies this through a lifestyle of following Jesus wherever He leads her. She is truly standing by the cross of Jesus, listening to His voice, trusting His heart, and following His lead.
Standing Near the Cross: Wanda Bicknell
Wanda Bicknell, Gina’s mom, is standing by the cross of Jesus, walking in the Spirit, waiting for her next assignment from God, grieving with hope, and trusting God for what He has planned.
Standing Near the Cross: The Women Surrounding the Cross
Do you have a godly mom who influenced your life? What women in your life have influenced you to draw near to God?
In John 19, we see there are several women, including the mother of Jesus, standing by the cross.
Mother’s Day is coming up soon (May 14)!
How can we give honor to our moms? If you are a mom, how can drawing near to the cross of Christ change you and influence all of those around you to love and follow Him?
Without the Resurrection…
Conspiracy theories. They can be intriguing, fear-inducing…and, sometimes, flat-out wrong.
Did you know that the Bible tells us a conspiracy theory about Jesus’ resurrection began soon after that glorious Sunday morning that He walked out of the grave?
Without the resurrection, we are helpless, hopeless, and heavenless.
What do you think? Is the resurrection truth or a hoax?
Revival Fire: Walking in Revival
Walking in the Spirit is a vital part of spiritual revival taking root and continuing in our lives, our churches and our nation.
But the flesh, our old nature, tries to slow us down, trip us up, and cause us to stumble.
How can we strengthen walking in the Spirit, and weaken our walking in the flesh?
Revival Fire: Living in the Revival Spirit
Do you ever experience dry times in your spiritual walk? Times when it is difficult to pray? To read His Word? Maybe even to be in church where others are worshiping freely and with joy?
Even though we receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit when we are saved, we must be filled with the Spirit daily in order to live with consistent joy and peace.
Revival Fire: Breaking the Power of Sin
Revival begs us to break free from our sin and embrace holiness.
We can break free from apathy, indifference, faithlessness, impurity, and compromise in our lives, our churches, and our country by seeking the holiness of God.
How can we live in holiness and freedom from the power of sin?
Revival Fire: The Reviving Power of God’s Word
Historically, when our country experiences revival, Bible sales skyrocket!
When God’s Spirit moves uniquely, people become hungry for God’s Word, and as a result, chains of bondage are broken, rebellion is shaken, pride is driven out, confession becomes the norm, and the Word of God is held in high esteem.
Are we there yet?