Day 6: Standing in the Gap for the Leaders and Nations of the Earth

“ “29 The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy and have exploited the foreign resident without justice. 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. 31 So I have poured out My indignation upon them and consumed them with the fire of My fury. I have brought their ways down upon their own heads, declares the Lord GOD.””

— Ezekiel 22: 30

Around the nations of the world today, we see wars, poverty, suffering, persecution, corruption of the highest level, and a high degree of wickedness and hatred , etc. Some of these problems are due to wicked leaders who take pride in their wickedness. Proverbs 29:2 “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.” In the Bible days, these realities were uncommon, as noted in Ezekiel 22, where Israel was in the season of moral decomposition before the eyes of God; therefore, God needed someone righteous to stand in the place of prayer, an intercessor. This is not just any person. If God intends to build a righteous wall, then this person must be someone whose walk is righteous. James 5:16 “Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” God’s intentions are always clear and good towards mankind. He is always looking forward to restoring our spiritual integrity and commitment to him so we can fellowship with him.

The prophetic word in Isaiah 60:3 “And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.” must come to pass, and God is looking for us to stand in the gap and declare his word on the earth.  Psalm 46:10 ““Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” God is not a man for him to lie, hewants to be exalted, made known in the nations of the earth.

Prayer Points

God is just and true to his word. When we pray, he hears and answers us. It is the responsibility of the church to intercede for the leaders. Pray that the church will come back to the place of humility, repentance, and seeking his kingdom so that God will turn his attention to his church and hear their cry. 

2 Chronicles 7:14 “and if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.”

Let us all come before the Lord and confess the sins of our nations, leaders, communities, families etc:

Daniel 9: 7-8 “ 7 To You, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but this day we are covered with shame—the men of Judah, the people of Jerusalem, and all Israel near and far, in all the countries to which You have driven us because of our unfaithfulness to You. 8 O LORD, we are covered with shame—our kings, our leaders, and our fathers—because we have sinned against You.”

Pray that God will forgive us for not praying for our leaders. Most often we complain moreand pray less. Pray that God will touch the hearts of our leaders- presidents of nations, cabinet members, senators, etc. 

1 Timothy 2:1-2 “1 First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone— 2for kings and all those in authority—so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity.” 

Ask God for forgiveness upon his church for not praying for the things that matters to God: 

1 Samule 12:23 “As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you. And I will continue to teach you the good and right way.”

Pray for the grace of God in the church to walk in the attributes- acting justly and seekingtruth so that God may find and use his church for his good purpose: 

Jeremaih 5:1“Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem. Look now and take note; search her squares. If you can find a single person, anyone who acts justly, anyone who seeks the truth, then I will forgive the city.”

There was a Moses in the days of the Israelites. Can God trust and use you today? Pray that God will find in his church, men and women worthy to bear his burden for the perishing world:  

Psalm 106:23 “So He said He would destroy them—had not Moses His chosen one stood before Him in the breach to divert His wrath from destroying them.

Pray that God’s ways, his word, will be made reveal to the nations: 

Psalm 67: 2-4 “2 That your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. 3 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! 4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth.”

Pray that the prophetic word comes to pass in the nations of the earth: 

Zechariah 2:11 “And many nations shall join themselves to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people. And I will dwell in your midst, and you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you.”

Ask God to give you a nation so you can continue to pray for even after this season of prayers/fasting: 

Psalm 2:8 “Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.”

Righteous leaders have minds that aligns with God’s ways, standards, living out justice, integrity, and compassion, love and mercy. Pray for leaders to turn to the Lord. Pray that righteousness leaders will run for positions, because they are better positioned to bring a blessing rather than a curse to the land.

Proverbs 11:10-11 “10 When the righteous thrive, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy. 11 By the blessing of the upright a city is built up, but by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.”

When God leads a nation and chooses the people as his inheritance, they enjoy the blessing of the Lord and the reverse is also true. Pray that God will have mercy and cause that the leaders will repent and follow his ways: 

Psalm 33:4 “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people He has chosen as His inheritance!” Isaiah 60:12 “For the nation or kingdom that will not serve you will perish; it will be utterly destroyed.”

Day 5: Walking in the Will of God

““ Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.””

— Romans 12:2 

Conforming to the pattern of the world: As parents, leaders, friends, co-workers etc, we are constantly being surrounded by these words either on the speaking or the receiving side. This kind of command is genuinely from a heart filled with love. These words are very heavy Command “DO NOT”  This is a warning from the Lord who happened to also be the creator of the world. God knows why we should not be conformed to the patterns of the word. He sees the danger ahead and speaks with the voice of a loving father.  1 John 2:15-17 “ 15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16  For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” Infact if we are friends with the world, it places us in a position where we become God’s enemies. James 4:4 “You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God.” When were say we belong to God but also follow through with the things of this world, then the truth is not in us. Mathew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

Transformed by the renewing of your mind: Transformation involves change in character, behavior, and thinking etc. When our minds are renewed, it means transformation has taken place and this can be possible only by the word of God replacing our old thoughts with new ones. Ephesians 4:23-24 “23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Psalm 119:11 “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

This happens not by our efforts but when we yield to the work of God within us. ”Philippians2:13 “ for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose”.Through the power of the Holy Spirit working in us, our mind surrenders and that metamorphosis begins to take place and shape our mind into the mind of Christ. Philippians 2:5 “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” 1 Corinthians 2:16  “For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.”

“Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is”: Therefore, it is possible to know the will of God. The will of God is understood when the mind has been transformed by the word of God through bible study, worship, meditation and prayers. This is a process where we grow and mature in our ability to examine, understand, and decern the mind of God.Proverbs 3:5-6 “5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him,  and he will make your paths straight.”

This comes through building our faith- Hebrews 11:6 “ And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him”. Building our faith in him helps in trusting and yielding to the word of God. Ephesians 5:17 “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”  Romans 10:17  “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” This happens as we daily yield ourselves to the word of God through the practice of daily dwelling in the presence of God, reading, studying, and medication and worshiping.Hebrews 10:36 “For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.” We can only build strength by daily yielding to the word of God and thus enable us to walk in humility. Micah 6:8 “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

We come into understanding the will of God through believing and trusting his word. His word is exactly what its says and does, we just need to allow our it in. It has life to bring back whatever is death: Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart”.

Finally, God will for man is eternal life, so if we have this life, we are walking in his will and need nothing else- John 6:38-40 “38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39  And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40  For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

Prayer Points

Pray that the church will just let go whatever that has occupied the mind and believe the true word of God. 

John 20:31 “But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name”.

Pray that the Holy Spirit will help us hear and understand the seed of the word of God sown into us:

Mathew 13:23 “But the seed sown on good soil is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and produces a crop—a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold.”

Pray that the great shepherd will equip his church with everything needed to walk in his will- what pleases God: 

Hebrews 13:20-21 “20 Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

Pray that everything will work for our good: 

Romans 8:28 “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Pary for the grace and desire of the church to seek the Kingdom of God; the authority of his word, his value, charter, his truth, his righteousness etc:

Mathew 6: 33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Romans 14:17 “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

Pray for the grace to set our mind on Christ alone: 

Colossians 3: 1-2 “1 Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, strive for the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

Pray for the grace to draw near to God daily. This builds our relationship and shapes us into his image.

James 4:8 “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

Pray for the grace to run away from things of the world but to run after these that God has approved: 1

Timothy 6:11 “ But you, O man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.”

Day 4: Marriage in God’s Eyes

““Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh”.”

— Genesis 2:24

The Covenant of Marriage was never a man’s idea. God put this in place from creation, but, unfortunately, today most marriages are treated as contracts (if it does not work, we can end the contract), a means of exploitation ( the man or woman has so much money), an avenue to have children ( I really want to have children with one man/woman), etc. After the covenant of marriage, God sealed the man and woman as one; 1 Corinthians 7:39 “A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.” and he declared that no man should separate what he has joined together. This means even the man and woman have no right to separate from each other. This is not the case today. People have interpreted the word of God to fit their personal, self-centered agendas. Additionally, when God instituted the covenant of marriage, it was and has always been between a biological man and a biological woman, nothing else.  Matthew 19:4-6 “4 He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, 5 and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? 6 So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” 

“The church must wake up from sleep and go back to its roots and stop accepting anything less than what the word of God says”. 

There are so many divorces today, even in the church, not even related to sexual immorality. The hardness of the hearts of men has not changed, even though we claim to be a new creation in Christ with a new heart and spirit. Pray that the church will invest around marriages to provide enough support and resources to couples so that they are able to invest in the word of God which is the foundation upon which marriage stands: Mathew 19: 7-9 “7 They said to him, “Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?” 8 He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart, Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.”

Pray that the Holy Spirit will illuminate the spirit of  husbands so they can see and understand the need to relate to their wives according to this word: 1 Peter 3:7 “ Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.”

Pray that the river of God’s kind of Love will flow into every marriage as well as revive every broken marriage in Jesus’ mighty name: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 “4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; 6 it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Today, even in the church, we hear of so many stories about married men and women cheating on their spouses. Pray that the blood of Jesus will cleanse the church and grant grace for couples to respect  this word of God in their homes: Hebrews 13:4 “ Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.”

Pray that husbands will love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave all to the church. Pray that wives will respond in being submissive to their husbands so that they both can live in harmony: Ephesians 5:22-33 “22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now, as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. 25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”

An excellent wife is the wife whom the husband has groomed and made her his crown. Pray that husbands will prayerfully invest in the building of their wives: Proverbs 12:4 “An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.”

Pray for the revelation of walking together as one so that couples would build a stronger union to fight the enemy: Ecclesiastes 4:9-11 “9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone?”

Pray that the counsel of God for marriages shall stand and that the counsel of the enemy must be dismantled:  Psalm 33:11 “But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.

God is a restorer. Pray that broken marriages be restored in Jesus’ mighty name. Pray that prodigal wives and husbands will return to their partners and place of their covenant in Jesus‘ name: Isaiah 61:7 “Instead of shame, My people will have a double portion, and instead of humiliation, they will rejoice in their share; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs.” 

Pray that the power of the enemy over marriages be defeated in Jesus’ mighty name: Deuteronomy 28:7 “The LORD will cause the enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before you. They will march out against you in one direction but flee from you in seven.”

God blessed his creation and released the grace of fruitfulness and increase. Children are called “a heritage from the LORD and a blessing in marriage. Pray that God will visit marriages that have not yet received this blessing. Psalm 127:3 “Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him.”  Genesis 1:28 “God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Leviticus 26:9 “I will turn toward you and make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will establish My covenant with you.”