Scripture:

“So Joshua and his entire army, including his best warriors, left Gilgal and set out for Gibeon. ‘Do not be afraid of them,’ the Lord said to Joshua, ‘for I have given you victory over them. Not a single one of them will be able to stand up to you.’
Joshua traveled all night from Gilgal and took the Amorite armies by surprise. The Lord threw them into a panic, and the Israelites slaughtered great numbers of them at Gibeon. Then the Israelites chased the enemy along the road to Beth-horon, killing them all along the way to Azekah and Makkedah. As the Amorites retreated down the road from Beth-horon, the Lord destroyed them with a terrible hailstorm from heaven that continued until they reached Azekah. The hail killed more of the enemy than the Israelites killed with the sword. On the day the Lord gave the Israelites victory over the Amorites, Joshua prayed to the Lord in front of all the people of Israel. He said,

So the sun stood still and the moon stayed in place until the nation of Israel had defeated its enemies. Is this event not recorded in The Book of Jashar? The sun stayed in the middle of the sky, and it did not set as on a normal day. There has never been a day like this one before or since, when the Lord answered such a prayer. Surely the Lord fought for Israel that day!” Joshua 10:7-14 (NLT)

 

Perspective:

 

The Gibeonites sent word to Joshua that they were being attacked by one of the kings occupying the Promised Land. Joshua responded by preparing his army to go fight the battle with the Gibeonites. God then came to Joshua and commanded him to not be afraid, because God was going to give him victory. As Joshua and his army approached the Amorites, God did what Joshua couldn’t do. He sent such confusion amongst the people that they fled from the Israelites. However, in the midst of this battle, Joshua prayed an unlikely prayer. He basically asked God to allow the sun to stand still so that they would have enough light to fight the battle. Joshua could have prayed for quick deliverance from their enemies; he could have asked God to destroy them by fire. Yet, Joshua’s prayer was unexpected at best. Who asks God to make the sun stop in its tracks? Someone who believed God was able to do it. In believing God for victory, God did what Joshua could have never strategized or planned.

 

In our lives, we face battles of all kinds. We may be facing a financial struggle or a relationship challenge. We might be standing on the edge of an impossible situation, feeling afraid and discouraged. God’s word to Joshua was to not be afraid of the battle before him. If God had to command Joshua to let go of fear, then it was likely in response to Joshua’s feelings. God’s command to not be afraid stands. We cannot allow the fear of people, situations, or outcomes keep us from the victory that God has in store for us. The victory for Joshua was coupled with a bold prayer. He asked for something impossible, and God answered. Is it possible that we don’t pray bold prayers because we don’t believe God can answer? The fear of our realities overshadows faith in God’s power, and we can hold back from asking and claiming the promises of God. Joshua experienced an unlikely answer as a result of a bold prayer. He looked at his situation, the need for an impossible answer, and he actually had the courage to ask God. His prayer changed the very dynamics of the battle he was facing, resulting in God bringing victory. Bold prayers have the power to change the outcome of the situations you are facing as well. Instead of praying half-hearted, timid prayers with no expectation, what if we started believing God? Instead of fighting out of our own strength, let’s have bold faith to pray bold prayers that usher God’s victory into our lives.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

 

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About Hona Amer

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