Thoughts for Life: God Stands in the Gap

Ellen Romig shares with us, "The voice on the phone was our daughter.

I heard broken sobs and unintelligible words.

Our daughter, a single parent of two, had lost her home in a short sale.

Our hearts broke for her. We longed to have the miles disintegrate so we could look into her eyes and touch her hand.

The difficult situation rendered us powerless in our human abilities.

When everything else failed, our prayers would be the hotline for the Holy Spirit.

It seemed like yesterday she was at home where we nurtured and protected her. We’d done everything we had been taught about child rearing.

As it would turn out, all the child rearing abilities in the world couldn’t protect our daughter from life’s problems.

We came alongside her, reminding her that spiritual guidance lasts eternally and is applied daily.

She did not need to give up or view the loss as something she couldn’t get beyond.

Doors opened in unexpected ways. Restoration of her life circumstances changed. She had only to press on and rely upon His strength and His sufficiency.

Christ offers us the peace and confidence to rear the young lives given to our care.

His word is strong and His way is clear. All we need to know to raise our children is given completely in His word.

It requires surrender and trust. He already has the needs of our kids met.

As parents, our strength came from knowing prayer petitions were heard. It was a matter of His timing.

We were faithful and stood in the gap with prayer requests. We prayed for the Holy Spirit to become her complete strength, joy, and sustenance.

Her life began to take on new dimensions with unexpected provisions for housing.

She would live comfortably in a townhouse with plenty of room for the children and her pet. Her bills, a little easier to pay.

Each day was hopeful and she recognized in the midst of a trial there were no circumstances too great for Him.

Her daily life became one of sufficient dependency.

Where we were insufficient, Christ became the complete sufficiency in all things.

Do you need His sufficiency for your day? Reach out and trust. He will stand in the gap for you."

"Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. II Corinthians 3:5 NIV

God Stands in the Gap - Ellen Romig

Ellen Romig is a graduate of George Mason University.

Although a native Virginia girl, she and her husband Paul moved to Colorado where they raised their family.

They have five children and six grandchildren. Ellen is active in a Christian writing group and is involved in Paul’s prayer ministry.

Read Ellen's devotions.

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Used by permission www.christiandevotions.us

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Let’s pray:

Father, when we realize our inadequacy to solve problems of our grown children, we simply must come to You for help.

When our children call with needs that are too great for them to deal with, may we remember You are able to help them.

We can be sure Your Holy Spirit is present with them, and You'll be walking through their situation with them. We're looking to You to aid them.

Remind us to come to You quickly with the needs our children have, to allow You to be glorified in the answers that are to come.

Because of our faith being activated, they will learn of Your sufficiency, and learn afresh to obey Your Word, and to pray for help. In Jesus' Name we ask this, Amen.

“Father, we come to You today, praising You for meeting our needs in ways that we may or may not understand at the time. Looking back, we see Your hand of mercy and love. We recognize Your presence and your power and we celebrate You …we celebrate life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.” Mary Southerland

Today’s Bible verse: Daniel 5:21b "He knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will."

Today’s quotes: Sharon Jaynes – “Like an artist who sees the finished work in his mind’s eye, God saw your unformed substance and then began to fashion you from head to toe. He made no mistakes but planned each detail of your being. You do not need to compare yourself to other works of art, but thank the Artist for how He chose to create the masterpiece called…you." Sharon Jaynes

Some thoughts today: If someone has hurt you, go to God! When we forgive, it is for our sakes. We need to acknowledge the sin of unforgiveness, so God can heal us.

- As God extends us grace, we need to do the same for others. Forgetting is not tolerating the sin. Intervention is needed!

- We tend to have unreal expectations of others, who themselves are imperfect. Hunter

A popular post: Still in God's Hands "We are doing all we can do, and I must leave them in God’s hands.’ Her trust in God in the midst of trials reminded me of job’s trust Job 1:6:22."