Asking God

I Kings 3:7-14 (KJV) Says, "And now, O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; Behold I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. And I have also given the that which thou hast not asked both riches and honor: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days."

In the above passage of scripture Solomon is talking with God in a dream. God has made Solomon king after the reign of his father, David. Solomon is young and the people he has rule over are more than can be numbered. Solomon was well aware of what a great responsibility being king was, and he took that responsibility seriously. When given the opportunity to ask anything of God he desired, he ask for an understanding heart to judge the people with the ability to discern good and bad. Solomon especially being young could have chosen to ask God for something that would benefit him and him only. He could have ask for gold, silver, fine horses and chariots, beautiful women, and so many other things that he himself would find pleasure in, but yet he opted to ask for an understanding heart. God was so pleased with what Solomon ask of Him that he blessed him with not only an understanding heart, but He also gave him riches, honor, and a promise of long life, if he would keep His statutes and commandments.

We are blessed to have the opportunity to go to God in prayer any time day or night. We can go to him in prayer, and ask anything and everything we desire to ask him. Many people, unlike Solomon, choose to ask God for shallow, earthly, material things in lieu of asking God for things that are of real importance. What these people fail to realize is that if your heart is right, as was Solomon's, and you ask earnestly for things that are of importance in helping you to be the best servant of God that you can be He will rain other blessings upon you as long as you live in obedience to Him. Choosing to seek and chase after money, and the material things we desire, making them a priority, is such a big mistake. We need only to realize that God wants to bless us, if we will get our hearts right, and choose to live in obedience to Him.

If you went to God in prayer right now, what would you ask of Him? Would your request be one of substance and importance that would be pleasing to God? Would your request benefit someone other than yourself? Would you ask God to lead, guide, and direct your path? Would you ask Him to shine light on His Word as you read and study it? Would you ask Him for wisdom and understanding? Would you ask Him to help you grow in the areas of kindness, compassion, forgiveness, mercy, or other areas of weakness you may have in your life? Or would your prayer be one that is material, and self-serving?

Solomon reaped many blessings because his heart was right with God. He was granted his prayer request and so much more because he was unselfish, earnest, and he had a right heart. Is your heart right in regards to your desires? Are your priorities straight? Are you living in obedience to God? Are your requests unselfish? I encourage you to do as Solomon did, and that is to ask God for things that will help you to be the best disciple of Christ you can be, and for those things that will help you to carry out and fulfill the plan God has for your life. I want to be clear there is nothing wrong with going to God in prayer about our worries, troubles, cares, and desires, but if we find ourselves going to God in prayer requesting only material possessions we need to examine our hearts immediately.  I encourage you to take an honest look at your heart, to live in obedience to God, and to include in your prayers things that benefit more than self. God loves you and wants the best for you just as He did Solomon. He has blessings prepared to rain down on us, and is eager to do so, when we choose to live in obedience to him.

If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you.