SECRETS OF ANSWERED PRAYERS

12 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.”
13 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.
14 THE LORD FOUGHT FOR ISRAEL THAT DAY. Never before or since has there been a day like that one, WHEN THE LORD ANSWERED SUCH A REQUEST FROM A HUMAN BEING.”
Joshua 10:12-14 (NLT)

• The issue about the above Bible passage is not whether the sun moves or it does not. Even if we agreed that the sun does not move, It is a miracle for the earth that is rotating round the sun to stop moving at the request or command of Joshua in prayer—the leader of Israel, and a mortal person. There was no night that day based on Joshua's prayer!

• The LORD fought for Israel that day. God will also fight for you and you will hold your peace in Jesus' name. If you belong to God, you are on the Lord side, He will surely fight for you.
• God will not forsake you in the time of your predicament. He will answer your requests, If you walked in close fellowship with Him.
• Uncommon request of Joshua was granted. No matter how difficult it may be, your request can be granted, if you are in a good term with God.
• You do not rush to God in prayer in the day of adversity, you have to build a relationship and communion with Him, even before any adversity.
• If you rushed to God for help in the day of adversity, without any solid relationship and communion on ground, you may not get His attention.
• God will honour your word and prayer, based on your faithfulness and commitment in your relationship with Him. If you are not committed to Him unreservedly, He would as well not be committed to you (Zechariah 7:13; 2 Timothy 2:12,13).

• Joshua made a request which no man had ever made before (Joshua 10:14).

• God honoured Joshua’s request because of his relationship and communion with Him. Let it be known to you that you cannot use God or take advantage of Him.
• The secret of answered prayers is deeper commitment to God. Willingness to follow Him and do His Will, all the time.
• If you relate with God because of what you wanted or needed from Him, you may not get His attention when challenges come. You are called to walk with Him, consistently, not to take or receive from Him and abandon Him.
• If you are not serious with your Christian life, you only get committed when there are needs in your life; but once the needs are met, you get back into spiritual apathy. With an attitude of such in your walk with God, you cannot receive the best of Him.
• You cannot mock God. You cannot deceive Him, nor take advantage of Him. No. God is too big and great to play on His intelligence.
• God is all knowing, He knows the intents of every heart. God knows your thoughts: “AS FOR YOU, MY SON SOLOMON, KNOW THE GOD OF YOUR FATHER, AND SERVE HIM WITH A LOYAL HEART AND WITH A WILLING MIND; FOR THE LORD SEARCHES ALL HEARTS AND UNDERSTANDS ALL THE INTENT OF THE THOUGHTS. IF YOU SEEK HIM, HE WILL BE FOUND BY YOU; BUT IF YOU FORSAKE HIM, HE WILL CAST YOU OFF FOREVER" (1 Chronicles 28:9 NKJV).
• If you want to use Him to achieve your goals, He knows, you cannot deceive or cajole Him.

• Friends of God (Isaiah 41:8; John 15:14; James 2:23).

• You need to become His friend, for you to receive an answer to the request that seems difficult to be granted, although there is nothing too difficult for Him (Jeremiah 32:17,27; Luke 18:27).
• Work on your relationship and fellowshipping with God, in order to become His friend and confidant. Build up your relationship with God, to the friendship level: "YOU ARE MY FRIENDS IF YOU DO WHATEVER I COMMAND YOU" (John 15:14 NKJV).
• It takes someone who walks with God, in the light of His Word, with deeper commitment, to ask God for sun to stand still and be granted: "LET THE SUN STAND STILL OVER GIBEON, AND THE MOON OVER THE VALLEY OF AIJALON" (Joshua 10: 12 NLT).
• Nothing happens by chance, commitment on your part begets His own commitment also (John 15:14). If you did not honour God when you are in comfort, when you seemed not to need anything from Him; He also might not give you an audience when you call on Him in the time of distress (Zechariah 7:13; 2 Timothy 2:12).

• God will honour your word, if you can honour His Word, and If you dishonoured Him, He also will dishonour you: "THEREFORE THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL SAYS: ‘I said indeed that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever.’ BUT NOW THE LORD SAYS: ‘FAR BE IT FROM ME; FOR THOSE WHO HONOUR ME I WILL HONOUR, AND THOSE WHO DESPISE ME SHALL BE LIGHTLY ESTEEMED" (1 Samuel 2:30 NKJV).

"I WILL NOT ANSWER WHEN THEY CRY FOR HELP. Even though they anxiously search for me, they will not find me. FOR THEY HATED KNOWLEDGE AND CHOSE NOT TO FEAR THE LORD." Proverbs 1:28,29 (NLT)

• If all you wanted is miracles and blessings from God, but had no regard for His Word. That is, you do not want to live your life according to His Word or His commands—He also would not listen to you, when you call on Him (Zechariah 7:13).
• It is the Will of God that miracles take place in your life daily, only if you can follow Him and be committed to Him.

• You will not fail in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.

• Healing is children's bread, thus, healing belongs to you, as believer in Christ Jesus; thus, receive your healing from every oppression of the devil now in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
• The hold of sicknesses is totally broken in your life in the precious name of Jesus Christ.
  Peace!

STEPS TO SALVATION
• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. Ask that He will write your name in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).

• If you took the steps As highlighted above, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!