STAND IN THE GAP

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

 

I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap – Ezekiel 22:30 (NIV)

 

This little passage came up yesterday during a strategic planning session regarding a budding drug prevention pilot we are developing for our CHAMPIONS initiative with Attorney General Mike DeWine.

 

Churches, faith efforts, and youth leaders keep asking “what can we do” to keep kids from ever trying these dangerous opiates/opiods? 

 

And so yesterday was another of what I know will be many sessions with the “best of the best” prevention specialists in Ohio .  Our hope is to create opportunities and CHRIST-CENTERED messages that we can take to our kids, teens and parents by the beginning of the 2016/2017 school year.

 

Why the emphasis?

 

Today in our communities: 

1 out of 5 teens will try a BRAIN-ALTERING opiate for the first time. 

Most try one for the first time at 14 years old.

 

7 folks will lose their lives to overdose. 

 

40 to 50 who should have died will be “brought back to life” with something called Nalaxone. 

 

If we don’t start preventing the issue before it starts, the end is never good.

The thief comes with the sole intention of stealing and killing and destroying – John 10:10 (PH)

“Next to terrorism, this epidemic is getting the most attention in our nation.”(U.S. Attorney C.R. at our recent conference in Cleveland )

 

And it is THAT challenge that inspired a member of our team to share that passage from Ezekiel asking the tough question.

 

Who WILL stand in the GAP?

Is that you?

 

I realize it might not be you to join a State agency like my friend who uttered the passage yesterday, not a Pastor but a Doctor and Director of Prevention & Community Engagement who works with providers, coalitions and the systems like the CHAMPIONS. You may not be a youth Pastor dealing on the front lines or a policy director like my dear friends within Mr. Kasich’s and Mr. DeWine’s offices. 

 

But I know that if you receive this little devotion you CAN STAND in the GAP and PRAY!

 

There IS so much to be done in order to effectively deter our kids from succumbing to the enemy’s scheme.  It will REQUIRE supernatural intervention! 

 

Hence I am asking for your INTENTIONAL prayers for help today!

 

When we STAND IN THE GAP praying for this, we are praying GOD’S heart for the broken, the challenged and the truly lost. 

We are.

 

And even though this epidemic at times seems like a lost cause, with too much trauma, too many alternatives to self-medicate, not enough resources, and even a sometimes apathetic disengaged “church”, CHRIST DID COME to seek, find and save the lost. (Luke 15)

 

We must as well!

 

And before circumstances can change, we must heed GOD’S calling to intercede and to TRUST HIS ability to restore the lost, raise up ‘gap-fillers’ and shift the tide!

 

So will you join me today and my team as we stand in the GAP together?

I open each OFH the same way each day on purpose.  I call you to pray! 

Today I am just asking you to be a little intentional about that time and focus of prayer.

Remembering that...Prayer IS the answer to every problem there is. – Oswald Chambers

 

 

I love you all!

Be blessed this weekend!

Opportunities for Hope (Champions Charge)