Standing in the Gap in Intercession

As a church, God is inviting us to go deeper into prayer—not as a series, but as a lifestyle He wants to form within us. He is shaping us into an interceding people: a body that stands before Him on behalf of our city, our nation, and even the nations beyond us. To intercede well, we must become informed and intelligent intercessors—people rooted in Scripture, aware of the times, and discerning enough to sift truth from noise. Like the sons of Issachar, God calls us to understand both the hour we’re living in and how we ought to respond.

At the heart of intercession is “standing in the gap” (Ezek. 22:30)—stepping into a place of spiritual responsibility before God for the sake of others. Scripture shows this again and again: Daniel, Nehemiah, Ezra, and Isaiah all identified with the sins of their people, praying as "we", not "they". This is what we call identificational repentance, the posture of acknowledging the brokenness of our city or nation as though it were our own, not to condemn, but to reconcile.

Isaiah’s encounter in the throne room is a powerful example. Though he was a holy prophet, he cried, “I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell among a people of unclean lips.” Rather than distancing himself from a sinful nation, he identified with them, and God responded with cleansing, commissioning, and mercy. Through prophets and kings who interceded, God delayed judgment for generations. Scripture shows us that intercession truly moves the heart of God.

Today, we also live in a time of increasing darkness and approaching judgment. Yet God’s desire remains the same: that none should perish. And so He invites us, His people, to stand in the gap, to cry out for mercy, and to prepare the way for revival.

Our model is Jesus Himself. The One who knew no sin became sin for us. He identified with our humanity, bore our guilt, and even now “lives to make intercession” for us. When we stand in the gap, we are simply joining Jesus in what He is already doing.

Our motivation is the same as His: love. Love for God. Love for people. Love that moves us to pray, repent, and partner with Him for the healing of our nation.