Sun Stand Still

Over my convalescence I've manged to knock a few books off the old reading list. One of those was Steven Furtick's book "Sun Stand Still" . Steven spoke at a middle school event we held several years ago and was one of the most passionate and challenge speakers we've ever had engage students. I've heard of great things happening in Charlotte NC where him and his team have planted Elevation Church. He's a passionate lover of Jesus and is doing some great things to see his kingdom come.

I picked up his first book "Sun Stand Still" after several people I know mentioned they were in the process of reading it. My thoughts on it are somewhat mixed. It's based off the story in Joshua 10 where Joshua prays an audacious prayer the the sun would not set and God answers in a big way.  Much of this book felt like a pep-talk. It had the feeling of being in a high school gym or in a field at a bonfire listening to a coach motivate the fans. I think there's an important place for that yet that kind of encouragement will only get you so far. Some of Steven's thoughts on where faith comes from and how that operates in our lives I think I'd have to take issue with but the cross is big enough for all of that.

Despite it's fluffy and clique at times nature I think this book shows there's a real place to pray prayers that are so big only God can answer them. For me the take away is a good look at what kind of prayers am I praying as we begin this new year? Are they prayers that are so audacious so grand in their scope that if God in his sovereignty chooses to answer them only he will be able to get the glory?