Living in The Gap

Hey, y’all, it’s Daisy. Today, we are doing the “Encountering The Father” section in our Alone With God journal. And God has really put it on my heart today to remind y’all that listening to these devotionals is so, so, so great. Do not get me wrong. But it really is the work that we put into our relationship with God personally that transforms our lives. You know, I can’t do the work for you, and you can’t do the work for me because your life and my life – they’re both so unique. I really think that having your own personal story, having your own personal life, is really God’s gift to you, and it’s how he communicates his love for you specifically in ways that are tangible and ways that you can really connect to.

So, once you start to do this every day, I know it can feel like a hassle, but this is the most important relationship that you could possibly have. It becomes the most important thing to you because you really do get to see how active God truly is. It’s hard to put into words, but I really can’t explain how good my life is since starting this because I just see so much purpose in everything. I don’t feel alone. I don’t feel disconnected from God. I don’t go through those seasons where I feel like I am just waiting for God to say something. I go through them differently now. It has transformed my life. It’s transformed me. And it really does become almost addictive – like just want to stay interconnected with God all the time.

It’s really incredible. I really want everyone to experience it. So, if you would like to get an Alone With God journal, you can absolutely get one. They are available at wordbymail.com.

Let’s begin. Our verse for today is Ezekiel 22, verse 30.

Ezekiel 22:30 (NLT)
30 “I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one.

God told Ezekiel to rebuild the wall of righteousness and to minister to the Israelites because he needed a messenger to remind them of his love for them. Ezekiel was chosen to stand in the gap. He warned the people of God’s wrath, and he encouraged them to repent so that they would be spared.

We are living in really intimidating times. I am very scared for our future, and I say that, but I also know that God has us and that, ultimately, it will all be okay. But some days, it really does seem that the world is just so consumed with evil. As Christians, we are really being called to stand in the gap and to tell the world the truth about who God is and who we are as creation. It’s our job to take a stand and really fight back with love. I think that in a world that’s facing a true identity crisis, we need people who are courageous enough to deliver a tough message to people who are lost and don’t necessarily want to change. But I think that with something as important as the future of a nation, our obedience to God really must outweigh the desire to stay silent and to stay comfortable.

So, as you begin to think about the ways that you can share the good news of the Gospel and the truth of God, here are some tips to keep in mind.

1). Pray and ask for wisdom before you speak.
2). Be encouraging, not judgmental
3). Listen well without arguing
4). Close the conversation by reminding them that God loves them and that he is ready to welcome them with open arms if they will just consider exploring a relationship with him.

Let’s pray. Heavenly Father, thank you for showing us an example of true bravery and true obedience in the story of Ezekiel. I pray that you would give me and my fellow Christians the courage and the strength to stand in the gap for our country and for our world and to spread the good news of Jesus. Which is that God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that we could be together with him for eternity. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Once again, if you enjoyed this devotional and you’re looking to explore your relationship with God on a deeper level, please make sure to get the Alone With God journal at wordbymail.com. I love you. Have a wonderful day.

For tomorrow, let's decide to sit quietly and write our Answered Prayers and what we are thankful for on our "What am I Grateful For This Week?" page.

Sunday, bring your journal to church with you to take notes. If you are unable to make it to church or are following along in our Mark series, here is a link to the next message titled Grace or Law You Choose

We'll see you back on Monday.