Prayer is such a gift! Being able to communicate with the God of the universe is unlike anything else. Anyone can cry out to God at any time, but those that know God personally through a relationship with His Son Jesus can not only talk to God, but have His help to know what to pray when they don’t have words (see Romans 8:26-27).
Prayer is also an amazing gift because God desires us to come to Him with anything and everything that’s on our minds (see 1 Thessalonians 5:17 and Philippians 4:6). We don’t bother Him and there is no prayer that we can’t bring. As we see in the book of Psalms, we can be completely honest with Him. As we are honest with God and bring any and every request to Him, we are naturally drawn to His heart in trust and obedience. You can’t go wrong talking to God!
As I’ve been reading through 1 Kings lately, something caught my eye. Solomon’s father David had passed away, and he had now been named King of Israel. If you know anything about Solomon, you know that he was a man of wisdom. His writings of Proverbs, Song of Solomon and Ecclesiastes are referred to as wisdom literature.
Now, he was also a really broken person, as we all are. The prayer you are about to read is inspiring, but just a few chapters later, Solomon really messes up and forgets the Lord. He’s human, just like us. There were times in his life where he not only prayed for wisdom, but he lived it out. And then there were times when he forgot the wisdom that he prayed for and went his own way. Never the less, we can learn from Solomon’s prayer for wisdom. He had been entrusted with a lot, and he could have asked for anything. But his heartbeat here was, “God, give me wisdom.”
1 Kings 3:5-15
At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day. And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”
It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”
Solomon could have prayed for anything. He had been entrusted as King over God’s people. This was lots and lots of people. Yes, he failed in many regards during his reign. But he longed for wisdom. He understood that the task at hand was too great for his ability alone. He didn’t want to become prideful, puffed up and controlling. His hearts desire was not for fame, fortune, more possessions and money, and to make a name for himself. His desire was for God to give him wisdom to lead and steward what was entrusted to him. In response, God not only gave Solomon wisdom, but He also gave him more because He was pleased with Solomons desire and prayer. The Lord granted blessings and favor upon him, based on His timing and purpose for Solomon.
As I reflect on this prayer, I’m very challenged in my own life. I’m challenged to look at what’s before me, and ask for God to give me what I need, by His grace, to navigate it. In any and every situation: God, give me wisdom. Then, I can trust God to give me what I need for each season of life. He knows what my heart can handle. You can’t go wrong with the Lord’s wisdom! Apart from it, we will head down a path of selfishness and eventually reap the consequences of our actions. God’s wisdom protects us and is for our good.
May our prayer in each season of life be: “God, give me wisdom.”
Grace & Peace
Matthew Weaver 