Steven Furtick: Sun Stand Still DevotionalSýnishorn

The Prayer That Stopped the Sun

Right here on day one, I'm going to throw out a challenge to you: If you're not daring to believe God for the impossible... you're sleeping through some of the best parts of your Christian life. And further still, if the size of your vision for your life isn't intimidating to you, there's a good chance it's insulting to God. You should be living by audacious faith every day. Audacity is not just for elite Christians. It's intended for every believer. So today we're beginning a spiritual journey toward trusting God for what seems impossible. I'm thrilled to think about what its going to do for our lives and our world.

A story from the life of Joshua serves as our template for audacious faith.

The Israelites unleash a surprise attack on the Amorites, and right from the beginning the battle goes well. But as the sun sinks toward the horizon, General Joshua faces a decision. The victory isn't complete, and once it gets dark, the rest of the Amorites will slip away. Joshua sizes up the situation and delivers one of the most gloriously unorthodox prayers in the Bible. He has the audacity to ask God to make the sun stop in the sky. To freeze time on behalf of His people.

And God gives Joshua exactly what he asked for.

With everything in me, I believe God still desires to make the sun stand still over the life of every believer. Obviously, not in the unique way He did for Joshua, but in ways that are equally spectacular (although not always quite as dramatic), God is perfectly willing to perform the impossible in our everyday lives. If we have the audacity to ask.

Is there something that is seemingly impossible that you'd like to see God do through you? Maybe God has already been working in your spirit, planting a desire, sparking ideas about the much bigger things He wants to accomplish.

There's nothing our world needs more desperately today - in individuals, families, businesses, churches, and communities - than God's saving, supernatural acts. And God is ready to act if we will be bold enough to ask, not just for a good day or a better life, but for the impossible and then we will step forward to act in audacious faith.