Joshua’s Prayer

“And there was no day like that before it or after it, when the Lord listened to the voice of a man; for the Lord fought for Israel.”
Joshua 10:14


Observation:
As Joshua pursuits his enemies, he realizes that the day is almost gone and there are still many more to destroy. He wants to eliminate the menace before the sun goes down and before they can find places to hide, regroup, and attack again. He wants to seize the moment for all its worth, but the sun is coming down. In a matter of a second Joshua makes what could be perceived as a rash prayer, “O sun, stand still at Gibeon, and O moon in the valley of Aijalon.” And God did according to Joshua’s prayer. The solar system paused as Joshua finished killing the enemies of Israel. What an amazing display of God’s power in His commitment to fulfill His promises to Joshua! That day became like no other because the Lord listened to the voice of a man like Joshua.


Application:
How many times we do Joshua’s prayers at the end of the day when our task list appears with no significant dents? We may say, “O God give me more hours to finish this project,” or “Please Lord let all the traffic green lights be on so I’m no late.” We wish that those kinds of prayers could be answered. So why Joshua’s prayer was different? Perhaps two strong arguments can be made to answer that question.
The first argument is about the prayer that lines up with God’s will. God wanted His enemies to be utterly destroyed and He commanded first Moses, and then Joshua to carry on with His will. Joshua was anointed to be the leader who would take the matter into action. But also he was obedient to God’s instructions and very courageous in order to walk with faith in each of the battles. When he saw the opportunity to destroy all the enemies but certain circumstances opposing it, He prayed to God, not rashly, but very intentionally, believing that his prayer would be answered. When our prayers are centered in God’s will we should expect miraculous responses from the Lord.
The second argument is about the heart of the person who prays. Joshua was not only the appointed leader for the moment. His character and devotion to God partnered with his position and made him a leader that God blessed with favor and miraculous support. God does powerful miracles through leaders that obey him sincerely. Such qualities didn’t come at that moment of emotional passion. In the prior chapters, Joshua was extremely obedient to each word God spoke, he was devoted to God’s commandments, and he depended in God’s specific direction in his affairs as a leader. When a leader that walks in such a way prays according to the Lord’s will, God listens and He is willing to stop the entire universe in order to answer that prayer.
As a leader I must know what God wants for me and for my church. God provides me with the prayer list I should pray. He shows me His heart and I line up my desires in prayer with Him. Such prayers are according to the heart of God if I know Him and listen to Him. The best thing I can do as a leader is to be at the Lord’s feet and to listen to His directives for my personal life and for our church. As I hear His voice I echo His heart with my prayers. In that way, The Lord will bring forth miracles and amazing answers in our midst.


PRAYER: Dear Jesus, please give me the heart of Joshua when it comes to be a leader that depends completely in You. Let me be closer to You so I can hear the desires of Your heart and pray according to them. Also let me obey You in all the directions You have for my life regardless of how I feel. Give me courage to lead boldly according to the desires of Your heart, not according of what people want or what it seems convenient to them or to me. Grant me wisdom and discernment to ask with faith for Your hand to do miracles in our midst. I love You Jesus. AMEN!