Book Feature: Sun Stand Still

Have you ever picked up a book and thought “oh no… I think this one is going to rock my world”?  Those books come along every once in awhile for me.  I’m sure it’s the right message at the right time that rattles my thinking and pushes me through another season of growth.

My most recent encounter with the “oh man, this one’s gonna get me” feeling was Steven Furtick’s new book Sun Stand Still: What Happens When You Dare to Ask God for the Impossible

I roared through this book in a matter of a couple of sittings.  Sometimes wanting to chuck it across the room because of the fears it was exposing in me and sometimes wanting to stand up and exclaim that I was ready to take on the world.

Here are just a few quotes I couldn’t shake:

• “If the size of your vision for your life isn’t intimidating to you, there’s a good chance it’s insulting to God.”
• “My calling is great, the stakes are high, and stellar character is required.  My vision defines the parameters that I live by.”
• “The impossible becomes possible for you only as you carefully observe and faithfully obey the direction of the Holy Spirit.”
• “A lot of times, our greatest fears are rooted in personal insecurities.  The perspective of faith enables us to see who we truly are in Christ.”
• “Healthy confidence is born out of genuine humility.  Confidence without humility is arrogance.  Humility without confidence is weakness.”
• “The great things God will do through you are going to grow in the soil of persistence, prayer, obedience, and sacrifice.”

I’m really excited that I have the privilege of being a blog stop for this book and as part of the tour stop, Pastor Steven provided some addition insight’s for the readers of my blog as well as a couple of giveaways.  Enjoy!

When I was in college, I came across a paradigm-shattering concept in a book called The Knowledge of the Holy, by a twentieth-century writer named A. W. Tozer.  Tozer emphatically says that your view of God is the most important thing about you.  More than anything else, the scope and impact of your life is going to be determined by who you believe God to be.

I couldn’t agree more.  In Sun Stand Still, I invite my readers to believe that they are made to experience the miraculous on a regular basis.  To believe that audacious faith and impossible prayers are not reserved just for the juggernauts of faith in the Bible.  To believe that they could leave a God-sized impact on the world.

But as I wrote my book, I became convinced that if we are going to take impossible risks for God and make this kind of an impact, we had better know that he has the resources to get his will accomplished on earth. Otherwise our miniscule vision of God will short-circuit our faith.

After all, if God is not able to do the impossible, to accomplish the miraculous, why waste your breath asking him to do so? Faith in a God who is not able to deliver on what he has promised is not audacious. It’s absurd. If I were in financial trouble, I wouldn’t go to a college student to bail me out. I’d approach someone with a balance sheet that was more robust than mine. Anything else would be a waste of time.

The thing is, no prayer of faith to a great God is a waste of time. And that’s because the measure of God’s abilities will always surpass the measure of our audacity. No prayer is too big for our God. No vision too sweeping. No risk too great. God has never been nervous about his ability to live up to our faith in him. And this amazing fact invites us to believe him for the kind of requests and goals that most people would consider outside the realm of possibility.

If there is no limit to what God can do, then there is also no limit to what we can dream or pray or accomplish in his service.

After all, our God is the One who spoke the universe into existence. Then he stooped down and measured it with his hand (Isaiah 40:12). Did you know that scientists have found stars that are as large in circumference as the entire orbit of Jupiter? Yet God did not spend a single ounce of energy in creating them. He simply said, “Let them be.” And they were.

Our God is the One who leveled Jericho’s walls while Joshua and the children of Israel walked laps in childlike obedience.

Our God is the One who made the sun stand still.

The God of the Bible can do whatever he pleases. And what pleases him is to show off his power for his glory and renown.

In Sun Stand Still, I’m going to challenge you to give him the opportunity. Dream God-worthy dreams. Pray faith-fueled prayers. And live a life that can be explained only by the existence of a God who is infinitely great.

So, I’m thinking you’ve probably been challenged enough to check this out…  Sun Stand Still officially releases next week, so go order your copy HERE.

I’m also giving TWO copies away here on the blog.

To be entered to win a copy:

a) leave a comment about what impossible dream you want to believe God for,

and/or

b) twitter this post.

Winners will be announced Sunday, 9/19.

I’m excited to see how God can use a group of people who dare to have audacious faith!

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”