“And I sought for a man among them, one that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none,” Ezekiel 22:30.

A gap indicates an empty space that needs to be filled. We have probably heard stories of a person who almost drowned or was in some other great danger. Then someone put his life in jeopardy and stood in the gap, and the result was a dramatic rescue. In today’s reading, Moses stood in the gap when he prayed for Miriam. The Bible shows the great need for people to stand in the gap.

Some situations are dire and some not as drastic. They call for people who are willing to stand in the gap in prayer. Where are the prayer warriors who are willing to take up the cause and cry to God on behalf of others? We like to think that we will be the intercessor in a great crisis. We will say the right word or do the right thing when no one notices. We will just enter into our prayer closet and faithfully intercede on behalf of others.

There are crisis situations in many families, churches, and personal lives today. But again, where are the Christians who are faithful in prayer? There are plenty of people who analyze, say their two cents’ worth, and offer criticism, but very few will get underneath the burden and pray fervently and faithfully to the “Father which sees in secret,” Matthew 6:6.

Maybe more people in dire situations could be rescued if more of us stayed out of the gossip line and entered into the prayer line. Let us think the people that stand in the gap for us in prayer—not just a sentence or two, but an earnest, importunate prayer that takes time and effort for problems to be solved and people to be saved.

(Dr. Monterey D. Lee, Sr. is the pastor of Celebration Christian Center, located at 1215 9th Ave North, Nashville, Tenn. 37208. Their website is .)