If God answered all your prayers from this past week, how would the world be changed?
IT’S WORTH CONSIDERING
Bold Prayers
Then Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, “O sun, stand still at Gibeon, and O moon in the valley of Aijalon.” So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation avenged themselves of their enemies. Is it not written in the book of Jashar? And the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day.
Joshua 10:12-13
Now that was a bold prayer—commanding the sun to stand still! This is perhaps the gold standard. Science would say this is impossible. And even if it were possible, the laws of physics (as we understand them) would have to be suspended. Yet, it happened. Most of us don’t know what to do with this verse. How could it be? Of course, we’re forgetting that the laws of physics are at God’s mercy and not the other way around. He can do anything He chooses. He’s God.
The question for us is whether God would still do things like this today. Some say the age of miracles has passed. Yet, Hebrews 13:8 reminds us that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, yes and forever, and the same is true for the Father. Jesus went so far as to say that those who believe in Him will go greater works than He did (John 14:12). Then there’s the reminder that the things that are impossible for us humans are possible with God (Luke 18:27).
It sure seems like we’re limiting what God desires to do right here right now by praying according to our perceived capacity instead of God’s unlimited resources. What it comes down to is the revelation that our prayers reflect what we really believe about God. When we limit Him to what we think is humanly possible, we’re saying that God is no stronger than we are. Why would He ever want to answer a prayer like that?
AS I SEE IT
If God answered all your prayers from this past week, how would the world be changed? Not “your” world. “The” world. Think about the scope of what you’ve been praying for. Do your prayers reflect God’s heart and concern for the entire world, or are they limited to you own private little world? Are you asking God for what seems reasonable or are you asking for a miracle? Based on my own ever-evolving prayer life, I think it’s fair to say that the scope of our prayers reflects the boldness of those same prayers. The more we expand the scope of our prayers, the more boldness is necessary.
In the fourth chapter of Acts the Jewish leaders were opposing and persecuting the disciples as they preached and healed the blind and the lame. Here is part of their prayer to God:
Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly (Acts 4: 29-31).
These disciples responded to the opposition they faced, not with prayers for protection or prayers to silence the opposition, but with fervent requests for boldness. They didn’t pray for the hardships to dissipate, but for boldness to overcome them. What opposition are you facing today? Don’t forget that these disciples were filled with the same Holy Spirit who is available to us today. The name of Jesus is still as powerful as it was two thousand years ago.We are on a mission filled with obstacles, threats, and dangers, but how will we respond? How will we pray? How do we pray?
God is ready to manifest His glory, love and power to a lost world in unmistakable ways, but He won’t act until His people pray. He is waiting and looking for bold prayers—prayers that take us to a new level—a “sun stand still” level, with no limitations—prayers that actually intimidate us—prayers that flow from a sense of desperation for God to act. Joshua was desperate. If God didn’t perform a miracle, he and his army were doomed along with God’s reputation.
People are drawn to power they can’t explain. God is ready to display that power. Will we have the faith and boldness to pray God’s will into existence?
ON THE LIGHTER SIDE
Read the Bible. It will scare the hell out of you.
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