Boldness

The day the LORD delivered the Amorites over to the Israelites, Joshua prayed to the LORD before Israel:
"O sun, stand still over Gibeon!
O moon, over the valley of Aijalon!"
The sun stood still and the moon stood motionless while the nation took vengeance on its enemies. The event is recorded in the Scroll of the Upright One. The sun stood motionless in the middle of the sky and did not set for about a full day. There has not been a day like it before or since. The LORD obeyed a man, for the LORD fought for Israel!

Joshua 10:12-14 (NET)

Ok so a friend of mine told me to read Joshua* wow* Seriously, that's what my soul is doing right now. What an intensely amazing book! About a month ago I realized something about prayer; we're supposed to do it the way God tells us to do it the Bible*novel idea, I know. But I never really understood what James meant when he told us to ask in faith without doubting. Or what the writer of Hebrews meant when he told us to come boldly before the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help. I suppose I just always assumed that since God was so big that I should ask softly and politely and hope for the best. And if it doesn't work out? Oh well, better luck next time. But now I know just a little better. I remember that night literally yelling at God to keep the promises that He has made to me. Joshua did this on an infinitely greater scale. The LORD obeyed him because He had promised Joshua that Canaan would be his. In order for God to keep that promise, Joshua knew he needed more daylight. So he asked for it; it was the most impossible thing ever done in the history of world. I sat pondering what that would have been like. Imagine the fear that must have been placed in the hearts of their enemies when they saw that the sun had stopped for Joshua. It reminds me of The Return of the King when the orcs thought they had the victory and then their spirits just instantly sank the moment the Ring was consumed by the fire. Joshua's prayer was a bold command before the Lord*one that he had every right to make because his desires were in line with the Lord's desires (Psalm 37:4). This is how I want to pray now. But I'm still pretty sorry at it. I still have to battle with the doubts in my heart. But I must believe that God will do what I ask Him because, as long as I am truly delighting myself in the Lord, He will give it to me. And if He doesn't give it to me it's because I'm not delighting in the Lord in some area of my life. Also we must pray courageously. Pray for the impossible. Pray for the terrifying. God will answer us. He has promised us that He will. Stay tuned for the next Joshua musing. I can tell that there is some pretty good stuff coming up here.