When I think of the word "bold" as a verb, I think of doing something that might take a little risk, or being confident in something that other people might think is crazy. I think of putting myself aside, and doing what I know is right, even when it sounds completely ridiculous.
Bold Prayer. Those two words together are a challenge. I've been learning about the importance of being bold when I talk to God. I think there is an interesting balance between humbling myself before Him and realizing how finite and tiny I am compared to Him and His furious, miraculous, wonderful love, and coming to Him the same way I would come to my earthly father: with urgency, and expectancy.
I think relationships are the most vital thing in life. I am a firm believe in the saying, "It's not what you know, but who you know." However, I did get a conversation once with a friend that insisted that intellegence and knowledge are two extremely important qualities to have when hoping to meet the right people... which I don't completely agree with, but that's another topic to discuss for another day. I believe that saying so much for this reason: We may have high goals set for ourselves, and with enough initiative and ambition, we have a great chance of achieving our goals. However, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God has infinitely bigger plans for our lives than we could ever imagine, or guess or request in our wildest dreams. (Ephesians 3:20) I believe that He puts people in our lives to help us get from point A to point B to point C, and so on. If we set our eyes soley on our goal, we might get there in a straigh shot; but if we set our eyes on Jesus, He might take us on detours and we might meet people along the way who know exactly where to take us. At the end of our lives, we might look back and see the maze that the Lord has perfectly orchestrated for us- and that is the beauty of it. The Lord is so much wiser than me, and He knows just what I need, just when I need it.
I think it takes a bold attitude to relinquish our plans, and walk by faith. Some may call us crazy along the way, and we might be crazy... but how rewarding to live a lifestyle that glorifies God in every way, because He is the one that directs our steps.
I've been asking Jesus to put big things on my heart. It's easy to pray about the things that directly affect my daily life- whether that be my classes, or for healing for the people around me, or for my future husband. Don't get me wrong, those things absolutely need prayer- but I don't believe my prayer life should be confined to those things. I want to pray about big things, and watch God do big things. I want to see Him rock this campus, so I should be constantly asking Him to show me places that I should be praying for. I want Him to rock the face of Cambodia and their government, and their villages and that Red Light District, so I should be constantly praying over those things- for break throughs, and successful raids. I should be praying for those sweet, beautiful women, and those men who are held captive by Satan. I should be praying for that government and for justice to roll down.
If you're looking for something to enhance your life, try enlarging your prayers. It seems that I always see God in the most radical ways when I am praying radical prayers.
I love the story of Joshua, and I love how bold He was. Joshua 10 says this: On the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel: "Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon." So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies, as it is written in the book of Jashar. The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the Lord listened to a human being.
The sun stood still. Are you kidding? He knew what God had called him to do, and he know that all the glory would go back to God- He was fearless in asking the Lord what he needed. What faith...
Here is my challenge to you: Start praying for a "Sun Stand Still" prayer- Joshua was a mere human being, just as you and I are. He was anointed and equipped for a certain time period- just like you and I are. He was up against battles of his day that he could not handle with his human strength- just as you and I are. He saw God in a way that no other Human being has. I have the creater of the Universe, the great I am, the Author and perfecter of our faith, the Great Physician, the Almighty living inside of me- I have the authority to tell a mountain to move and it will. I have the ability to lay hands on the sick, and they will recover. I have seen blind people see, deaf people hear, the lame walk, and the prisoners set free; with my own eyes. Nobody could ever tell me anything that would make me doubt the power of the Holy Spirit. He can do outrageous things, things that no intellegence or knowledge could ever measure up to.
What would happen if we started praying for big things- for being bold in our conversations with Jesus, and expecting Him to rebuild governments, heal families, set captives free, purify minds... It might be uncomfortable, because He might call us to do things that people would see as crazy. I can only imagine the reaction Joshua got from his friends when he spoke to the sun, and told it to stand still. but man, I bet it rocked the life of every single isrealite.
Invite God to do big things; but when you ask him to, expect him to. He hears you, and He is especially fond of you. Be alert and ready for what Jesus lays on your heart to pray for. Asking for spare change and being timid will do very little for the world - be bold.
