Joshua 10:12-15: 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, “Let the sun stand still over Gibeon, and the moon over the valley of Aijalon.” 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! Then Joshua and the Israelite army returned to their camp at Gilgal.

Luke 17:5, 6: The apostles said to the Lord, “Show us how to increase our faith.” The Lord answered, “If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘May you be uprooted and thrown into the sea,’ and it would obey you!

These sections of scripture were written at very different times and under very different circumstances but they are both very connected! The account in Joshua says that the sun stayed in the sky and didn't set like usual just because Joshua asked the Lord to do it. There are a couple things to note here: Jesus says in Luke 17 that a prayer offered in faith will be answered but we also know from other parts of the bible that God will answer a prayer if it is accordance with His will.

Not only did Joshua have amazing faith but his prayer was for something that would help accomplish God's will (in this case, defeating the enemy). In other words, His motive was for God's glory and not his own selfish desire. What an amazing example of what a biblical prayer life can accomplish! What have you been trying to accomplish for God lately? Pray for God's help with your work. If you have faith and are asking with the right motives (see James 1), God will answer.

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