When I had a major thing happening in my life just recently, it had me defeated until I read this book. It encouraged me to move forward, and even though the prayer has not been answered, God is still working. I look forward to God working in my situation and totally changing things so there is total restoration where I thought it was impossible. God is calling met to be a man who has the audacity to do the impossible.
Audacity is a quality that makes people behave with "boldness or daring, especially with confident disregard for personal comfort or conventional thought" An audacious prayer is one that is bigger than you ever think is possible (without God of course!) It stretches your mind, faith and is prayed from a deep understanding who God is as our father and as the creator and sustainer of all things.
Steven Furtick bases this book on the passage from Joshua 10 , where Joshua asks God to stop the sun from setting for 24 hours so they can defeat the army and take the land. In Numbers 14:7-9 we read:-
"7 and they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: “The land we passed through to spy out is exceedingly good land. 8 If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, ‘a land which flows with milk and honey.’ 9 Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them.”
Sadly, fear defeated them that day and they spent the next 40 years wandering around the wilderness. To experience God's blessing we need to not give in to fear but pray audacious prayers and believe God for big things.
Forty years later, Joshua is heading into battle. He shows the audacity that we need in our lives. God spoke to Joshua and said, "Do not fear them, for I have delivered them into your hand; not a man of them shall stand before you.” (Joshua 10:8) That is a pretty cool promise! The only problem Joshua still had to go into battle. They unleashed a surprise attack at dawn and God got involved, even hurling large hailstones down on them from the sky! The problem was one day was not enough, and Joshua and the army did not have enough time to complete defeat them. So he prayed one of the most "unorthodox" prayers in the Bible. He prayed:-
“Sun, stand still over Gibeon; And Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.” 13 So the sun stood still, And the moon stopped, Till the people had revenge Upon their enemies. (Joshua 10: 13-14)
Joshua had the audacity to ask the impossible; for the sun to stand still in the sky. God answered his prayer and they defeated the enemy and wiped them out. God is encouraging us to pray prayers for God to do the impossible and to watch Him do things that will change our lives.
Early on in his Christian walk, Steve Furtick was given a book called "Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire" where a line on p.23 changed the trajectory of his life. The line was:-
Praying audacious prayers invites God to do something mighty in our lives and transform our lives from the ordinary to the extraordinary. We are transported to a place where God can do what He wants in our lives and cause us to be effective and mighty in Him. Do not miss what God wants to do in your life and through you!
When praying audacious prayers, Steve reminds us to understand biblical principals and continue to preach to ourselves from God's Word. As we do we will develop faith, confidence and release in you and then in your situation faith and prayer that will totally change you and your situation. I encourage you to write these 12 principles down, preach to yourself about what they say and use the principles to learn how to approach situations in prayer in a totally different way.
Twelve Audacious Faith Confessions.
1. I am fully forgiven and free from all shame and condemnation.
Romans 8:1-2, Ephesians 1:7-8, 1 John 1:9.
2. I act in audacious faith to change the world in my generation.
Joshua 10:12-14, John 14:12.
3. I have no fear or anxiety; I trust in the Lord with all my heart.
Proverbs 3:5-6. Philippians 4:6-7. 1 Peter 5:7.
4. I am able to fulfil the calling God has placed on my life.
Exodus 3:9-12. Psalm 57:2, Colossians 1:24-29.
5. I am fully resourced to do everything God has called me to do.
Deuteronomy 8:18, Luke 6:38, Philippians 4:13.
6. I have no insecurity because I see myself the way God sees me.
Genesis 1:26-27, Psalm 139:13-16, Ephesians 5:25-27
7. I am a faithful spouse (If you are single, you can slip future in there) and a godly parent - our family is blessed.
Deuteronomy 6:6-9, Ephesians 5:22-25, Colossians 3:18-19, 1 Peter 3:1-7.
8. I am completely whole - physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Psalm 103:1-5, Matthew 8:16-17, 2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 Peter 2:24.
9. I am increasing in influence and favour for the kingdom of God.
Genesis 45:4-8, 1 Samuel 2:26, Acts 2:37-47.
10. I am enabled to walk in the sacrificial love of Christ.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17, 1 John 3:16, 4:9-12.
11. I have the wisdom of the Lord concerning every decision I make.
2 Chronicles 1:7-12, Proverbs 2:6, Ecclesiastes 2:26, James 1:5
12. I am protected from all harm and evil in Jesus' name.
Genesis 50:20, Psalm 3:1-3, 2 Thessalonians 3:2-3.
Prayers (p.207)
For Your Family
I am praying that the sun will stand still over your family. If there are any broken relationships between you and your spouse, parents, brothers, or sisters, I pray that God will heal them. If you're in a place of isolation and loneliness, I pray that God will draw near to you and give you comfort. If your children have drifted from the centre of God's love I pray God will draw them back. If your spouse has shut down emotionally, I pray that God will open his or her heart.
For Your Job
I pray that the sun will stand still over the company where you go to work every day. I don't care if you sweep the floors or run the company - I'm asking God to illuminate your purpose and show you off as a trophy. I pray that many will come to know Christ through your example and that you will make the mark on the world that only you can make. After all, God doesn't call his people to live in the confines of the ghetto of subcultural Christianity. We are image-bearers of God, determined to represent Christ in all fields; educational, medical, legal, industrial, financial..... May you proclaim Christ in all things.
For You As A Child of God, Deeply Loved By Him
I'm praying that the sun will stand still over all your hopes and dreams and the issues of your heart. That you will confess every past mistake to God and let Him redeem it. That you will bring every unfulfilled expectation to God and let him exceed it. That you will expose every sinful area in your life to God and let him transform it. That you will offer all your talents, gifts and skills to God and let Him use them.
I encourage you to get a copy of the book and be encouraged to live a life where you are able to pray audacious prayers and see God do the impossible!