In Standing in The Gap I shared the 911 text that would call me into intercession for a friend and former student.
“Standing in the gap” comes from the bible verse in Ezekiel 22:30, “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.” God was calling for someone to step in and repair the broken wall so the city wouldn’t be vulnerable to invaders.
God calls us to step in and help those who are vulnerable to the enemy’s attack.
As believers, we are called to, “stand firm with the breastplate of righteousness in place” (Ephesians 6:14 paraphrased.) Often, however, we find ourselves vulnerable to the enemy’s attack.
Perhaps our heart has been weathered down through the storms of life.
Maybe our heart has been chipped away by the enemy’s arrows of shame, guilt, worry, fear, anxiety.
Or we might not even realize that our breastplate isn’t in place.
The latter would be Kayla’s challenge.
As many students can attest, anxiety is no joke. The struggle is real, and students today are drowning in fear of not measuring up. Add to that, shame and guilt when they don’t, and you have a recipe for break down. We can often forget to put on the righteousness of Christ as we fall under the weight of our burdens.
So what did we do?
After that fateful text, we set up a day for me to visit accompanied by a trusted friend. I was so excited to see her in her element! A smart and beloved young lady, Kayla was a joy to everyone, including me.
As I was driving, I prayed. “Father, please help me to listen. Please give me wisdom. Let my words be Your Word. I pray God that You will lead me.” These words were purposeful. They are words that I pray every day because my fleshly Type “A” tendency is to take control. I have to constantly remind myself that I have two ears and one mouth FOR A REASON.
After the text that would reset my world, Kayla and I talked every day. She would share with me an extreme sadness, shame, and guilt over things in her life. Overbearing, these thoughts were overwhelming her to the point of exhaustion. “I just don’t think I can do this anymore,” she cried for help.
When I arrived at her home and walked in, the very first thing I saw brought me to my knees.
“That must come down.”
A mural-sized wall hanging was directly over her bed. In the very center was the third eye. A symbol used in Hinduism. The third eye refers to the gate that leads to inner realms and spaces of higher consciousness.
I am not attempting a religious debate on this blog; however, based on the thoughts that my friend was experiencing; combined with my meager understanding of the use of the third eye in consulting the spirit world; well, you can understand my concern.
We had to get back to basics.
So, a group of us sat together and talked. We talked for hours. Kayla shared with us the struggles that she was experiencing, the thoughts she was having and how she would go into moments of darkness that were unexplainable and uncontrollable. To be completely honest, I knew I was out of my league, but I kept listening.
God is teaching me that it is not for me to interject with a prescription, often I just need to listen.
As we finished the visit, the Holy Spirit prompted two things.
She needed to let go.It was time to let go of fear, worry, shame, guilt, the thoughts and any other thing that was oppressing her.So she wrote all of these things down, crumpled them up a ball and dropped them at the feet of Jesus.
It was time to pray. When standing in the gap, prayer is all we have. It is the proverbial take my hand motion as we intercede for those who are in the middle of a spiritual battle.
So we prayed. We prayed for strongholds to break, oppression to release and healing to be experienced.
It was a beautiful moment, but again, only the beginning.
Tune in next time as I share what Kayla experienced next and the battle that ensued.