Standing in the Gap of Intercession

How believers stand in the gap through intercessory prayer

Speaker: Pastor Lee Cummings
Date: January 25, 2026

When we stand in the gap between God’s promises and human need, we take on the heart of intercessory prayer. Pastor Lee Cummings delivers a powerful message on why our hearts should carry a burden for prayer and how we can practically apply it.

Here's a 5-day devotional guide based on this sermon:

Day 1: The Call to Intercession

Reading: Ezekiel 22:30, 1 Timothy 2:1–4

Devotional: God is searching for someone willing to stand in the gap. This isn't a call reserved for spiritual giants or perfect saints—it's an invitation extended to ordinary believers. When God looked for an intercessor in Ezekiel's time, He found no one. What a sobering reality. Today, He's still looking for men and women who will position themselves between heaven's promises and earth's needs. You don't need special credentials or flawless faith. You simply need availability. The gap exists in your family, your workplace, and your community. Someone needs your prayers. Will you answer the call? Your willingness matters more than your ability. God delights in using common people to accomplish extraordinary purposes through the power of persistent, faithful prayer.

Day 2: Following Jesus, Our Great Intercessor

Reading: Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:25

Devotional: At this very moment, Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father, interceding for you. For over two thousand years, His primary ministry has been prayer on your behalf. Let that truth sink in—the Son of God is praying for you right now. He sees your struggles, knows your needs, and understands the Father's will for your life. When you engage in intercessory prayer, you're participating in the same ministry Jesus currently performs. You're aligning yourself with His heart and His work. The Holy Spirit also intercedes within you, praying according to God's will when you don't know how to pray. Intercession isn't foreign to your spiritual DNA—it's part of your new nature in Christ. You were created to partner with God in shaping history through prayer.

Day 3: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Power

Reading: James 5:16–18, 1 Kings 18:41–45

Devotional: Elijah was a man with a nature just like yours. He experienced fear, discouragement, depression, and intimidation. Yet his fervent, effectual prayers moved heaven and changed earth. The power wasn't in Elijah's personality but in his alignment with God's will and his persistence in prayer. He prayed seven times before seeing the answer manifest. Most prayers take longer to answer than we expect, but God honors persistent faith. You may feel ordinary, inadequate, or unqualified, but that's exactly the kind of person God loves to use. Your prayers aren't wishful thinking tossed into the void—they move the hand of God. One hundred percent of prayers never prayed never get answered. Your voice matters. Your prayers have power. Don't underestimate what God can do through your obedience.

Day 4: Praying Scripture, Not Just Emotions

Reading: Psalm 119:49–50, Matthew 6:9–13

Devotional: Effective intercession connects our emotions to God's promises. While feelings matter, we must anchor our prayers in Scripture. When you pray God's Word back to Him, you're not reminding Him of something He forgot—you're positioning yourself as His legal representative on earth, agreeing with heaven's agenda. Declare over your children: "Great shall be the peace of my children." Claim household salvation. Remind God of His covenant promises. This isn't manipulation; it's faith-filled partnership. Jesus modeled this when He prayed, "Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Take time to find scriptures that address your specific needs. Write them down. Pray them aloud. Let God's Word shape your intercession, transforming your prayers from emotional pleas into powerful declarations of faith.

Day 5: Trust God With the Outcomes

Reading: Luke 22:39–44, Philippians 4:6–7

Devotional: Intercession is obedience, not control. Even Jesus, in His most desperate hour of prayer, surrendered the outcome to the Father: "Not my will, but Yours be done." You control your obedience; God controls the results. Some answers require years of standing in the gap. Physical circumstances may worsen before they improve. Headwinds may blow strong against your faith. But persistence in prayer is never wasted. God is moving in ways you cannot see, working behind the scenes in response to your faithful intercession. Build your altar—a daily time and place where you meet God with your Bible, journal, and list of prayer needs. Take your post in the gap. Trust that your prayers are ascending to heaven's throne room, dispatching angels and shifting spiritual atmospheres. The breakthrough may be closer than you think.