Archive for January, 2012

Book Review: Sun Stand Still

Sun Stand Still

God has gifted each of us with the capacity to do great things for him. But, unfortunately, some of us never reach our fullest potential. Lack of faith can be a big factor in our falling short of our potential. In Sun Stand Still, Pastor Steven Furtick challenges us to step out in audacious faith in our Great God and do big things for Him.

(Buy Sun Stand Still right now using my affiliate link to Amazon)

Book Highlights

Here are a few key passages from the book that might be thought-provoking for you. As a mini disclaimer, some of my notes below are direct quotes and some of them aren’t. I have the audio version and was listening in the car. It’s the best I could do :).

  • If the size of your vision for your life isn’t intimidating to you, there’s a good chance it’s insulting to God.
  • Our God isn’t intimidated by long-shot prayers.
  • If the dream in your heart isn’t biblically-based, focused on Jesus, affirmed by the key people in your life, and tethered to your passions, gifts, and life experiences, chances are that you are way off prompt. The best way to avoid being duped by a counterfeit is to make sure you’re familiar with the real thing.
  • Audacious faith begins with sanctified naïveté.
  • If you want to see God do something impossible in your life, you must open your heart and mind to God’s vision for your life.
  • My vision defines the parameters I live by.
  • A sun stand still prayer applies audacious faith to a clearly defined need or goal that requires God’s supernatural involvement.
  • The sun stand still prayers you pray will often be temporary and specific, but they will always flow from God’s vision for your life.
  • Audacious faith isn’t some new extra-biblical faith. It’s a return to the core of Christianity, trusting Jesus completely in every aspect of your life.
  • Extraordinary moves of God begin with ordinary acts of obedience.
  • 55% certainty that you’ve heard from God is enough to take the next step (cf. The Perhaps Paradox of Jonathan and his armor-bearer)
  • Divine vision creates divisions (cf. Joseph of Genesis)
  • He who lives by the approval of others will die by the absence of the same.
  • When you want what God wants for the reason He wants it, you are unstoppable.
  • The scope and depth of your vision isn’t based on how big God is, but it is based in how big you believe God is.
  • Audacious faith is all about the Living Word. Hearing the Word initiates faith. Speaking the Word activates faith. Doing the Word demonstrates faith. This is the process of faith formation.
  • Sometimes God let’s the sun go down so that He can be our only light.
  • There is a clear distinction between hope and faith. Hope is a desire. Faith is a demonstration. Hope is the blueprint. Faith is the contract. You can’t just stand in hope. You must walk in faith.
  • Part of the answer to your sun stand still prayer, just might be you.

Final thought: Get the book. It’s worth the challenge.

To all of my students (especially the ones who are in high school):

Please do not water down the English language by cheapening our words of value. Don’t make “love” the equivalent of “like.” it cheapens the real deal.

Take a look at this cute, thought-provoking video about this idea…
(And by the way, these guys have a lot of good videos. Check them out!)