Jessica Albritton, NextGen Minister LHBC
Joshua 10:12-14
12 At that time Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord gave the Amorites over to the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel,
“Sun, stand still at Gibeon,
and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.”
13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped,
until the nation took vengeance on their enemies.
Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. 14 There has been no day like it before or since, when the Lord heeded the voice of a man, for the Lord fought for Israel.
Have you ever asked for something knowing what the answer was going to be? You go into a situation just as a formality already knowing the outcome? I believe we often approach God like that in prayer. We pray cookie cutter prayers and expect God to answer because that’s the logical outcome, it’s the outcome that is the safest and makes the most sense.
Joshua chapter 10 recounts one of those times where someone stepped out in faith and prayed a big prayer. The Gibeonites are under attack and have reached out to the nation of Israel asking for help. Joshua could have ignored their pleas and left them to their own devices but because of his integrity he rallied the troops and marched into battle.
I can only imagine the fear that weighed on Joshua at that time. He was going into a battle against 5 enemy kings and their armies after traveling all night long to get there. Surely the Lord knew how Joshua was feeling because in verse 8 the Lord commands Joshua “Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands.” Joshua and his army launch their surprise attack but after a while he realizes they need more time to defeat their opposition. Knowing their predicament Joshua cries out to the Lord and makes the most outrageous request. He asks the Lord to stop the sun. Joshua knows that they need daylight to fight and he needs time to defeat the enemy.
I don’t know about you but I for one would never have thought to pray that. I might have prayed for more allies to come, strength to fight, or even a quick smiting from God, but to pray that the sun would stand still? It’s not even logical. It had never been done… Joshua had no idea if his prayer would be answered but he was bold and asked in confidence anyway. And the Lord responded! God made the sun stand still and extended the light by almost an entire day! That was just the time needed for Joshua and Israelites to defeat the enemy they were facing.
There’s danger in asking God for something big, something that you know only He can pull off. It can be dangerous because it requires us to trust God more than we trust ourselves. Relying on God requires us to let go of the safety net we have set up for ourselves and pushes us to do scary things. James 4:2 tells us that we often don’t have because we don’t ask. I don’t believe that our problem as Christians is that we are not praying, I believe the problem is in what we are praying. God is still in the miracle business but often we resort to praying our safe cookie cutter prayers and in return we never get to see the Lord work in the ways that He is so capable of doing. People that are able to see God do crazy, ridiculous, miraculous things are the people crazy enough to ask Him for it.
What about you? What is your sun stand still prayer? Are you praying dangerous prayers? Prayers that you know only the God of the universe can pull off? Or are you still praying it safe?
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Heavenly Father, you are so good and you are so faithful! Lord, help me to trust in you and pray boldly knowing that you hear me! Help me to not pray safe prayers, but instead help me to pray big, dangerous prayers knowing full well that you are a God that answers. In Jesus name, amen!
MEMORY VERSES OF THE WEEK:
Psalm 25:4-5
Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.