The Power of Prayer

12 Then Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel:

“Sun, stand still over Gibeon;

And Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.”

13 So the sun stood still,

And the moon stopped,

Till the people had revenge

Upon their enemies.

Joshua 10:12-13

Five Amorite kings formed an alliance and plotted to kill the Gibeonites because they made peace with Israel and feared the strength of the confined armies. The Israelite army came to their aid and Joshua prayed for the sun to stand still to give Israel time to defeat the Amorite armies besieging the city of Gibeon. The request was made in the presence of the Israelites, and the sun, in response to Joshua's prayer, stopped in the middle of the sky and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day. This miraculous event allowed Israel to secure a decisive victory over their enemies.

In Christianity, the practice of praying before a miracle is seen as a way to seek divine guidance and support. It is believed that prayer reinforces faith and reliance on God's intervention in life's extraordinary moments. For instance, Peter is noted for kneeling in prayer before performing a miracle, illustrating how prayer can be a significant part of the process. Acts 9:40 says, "But Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up." Prayer is supposed to be part of our daily walk with God, and not only when we need divine intervention. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

As a Christian today, make prayer part of your daily walk with the Lord and not when you need Him to intervene. Pray when you get up in the morning, pray with your family, pray with your church, pray for the simple things, and pray throughout the day. It's all about having a dialog with God, because miracles still happen today, and God may use your prayer to show His miraculous power of healing.