Solomon’s Prayer for Wisdom

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1 Kings 3:6-15

Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father, only he sacrificed and made offerings at the high places. And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place. Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 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 our 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.”

And Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. Then he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.

The wisdom needed to guide us through life is from God; apart from God’s provision, a blessed life would be unknowable.

What is the blessed life? It is material prosperity and divine favor to spiritual fulfillment and eternal joy. It is a state that reflects God’s goodness and grace, and it invites believers to live in a way that honors Him and extends His blessing to others (Bible Hub; Topical: Blessed).

Solomon’s request was kingdom-centered, and God added to it. Solomon’s motivation for wisdom was the steadfast love of the Lord. Psalm 144:1-2 speaks to this kind of love:

Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle; he is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I take refuge, who subdues people under me.

Steadfast love refers to God’s unwavering, covenantal love, which is the central theme throughout the Old Testament, highlighting God’s loyalty and faithfulness to His people. God is a constant in our life, He provides a foundation of security and peace and we can trust in His unwavering commitment to us. “Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His loving devotion endures forever” (Psalm 136:1). God’s love is an active, personal commitment and we can see this in Christ’s sacrifice on the cross while we were still sinners (Rom. 5:8). God’s love never fails (Lamentations 3:22-23), we can rest in the certainty that every circumstance is filtered through His unwavering affection for His people.

God is at once an affectionate Lover, impenetrable Fortress, permanent Stronghold, decisive Deliverer, personal Shield, chosen Refuge, and sovereign Subduer of every opposing force. Each title invites us to lean fully on Him–loved, protected, rescued, and assured of triumph through His power alone (Psalm 144:2; Bible Hub Summary).

Solomon’s humble request for wisdom is grounded in the reality that he has already received the greatest treasure in life–the steadfast love of his covenant Lord. The same steadfast love of the Lord that Solomon experienced some three thousand years ago has been made ours, all through the work of the human embodiment of this steadfast love: Jesus Christ (Gospel Transformation; 1 Kings 3:3-14 Study Note).

Solomon asked for wisdom for himself.

A wise person is skillful in the management of life. They can make a life and make the most out of what life might bring. They are skilled in human relations and have the ability to understand and cooperate with the basic laws God has built into creation.

What is the greatest commandment? “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets” (Matt. 22:36-40).

Wise people have knowledge of human nature and of the created world, and they know how to use that knowledge in the right way and at the right time. Wisdom is very practical and personal.

Many people are smart enough to make a good living, but they aren’t wise enough to make a good life, a life of fulfillment that honors the Lord.

Solomon asked God to give him “an understanding heart,” because no matter how smart the mind may be, if the heart is wrong, all of life will be wrong. An understanding heart is a hearing heart, an obedient heart that is with insight and exercises discernment, distinguishing the things that differ:

“And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more with knowledge and discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:9-11).

An understanding heart knows what is real and what is artificial, what is temporal and what is eternal. This kind of understanding is described in Isaiah 11:1-5, a prophecy concerning the Messiah.

There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit and the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD and His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins.

Believers today can claim the promise of James 1:5

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach and it will be given him.

This request to God for wisdom and an understanding heart is pleasing to God; it shows that we are concerned with serving God and the people whom God puts before us, and we desire knowing and doing God’s will.

“Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). Meaning, our material needs will be met, our necessities of life: food, drink, and clothing.

Our assurance is rooted in God’s character as a loving Father who knows and provides for the needs of His children. Praise God, for it is His provision that frees believers from anxiety and allows them to focus on spiritual growth and service.

“Therefore, brothers and sisters in Christ, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58; my emphasis).


Written with much help from the “Gospel Transformation Study Bible”, biblehub.com and Wiersbe Bible Commentary: 1 Kings 3:6-9.

To You, Lord, We Lift Up Our Souls

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Lord God Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, Everlasting God, the giver of every good gift, faithful, true, and trustworthy. Prince of Peace, The Great High Priest, our banner of victory. You are all knowing, all sufficient, and present everywhere, King of kings and Lord of lords, an ever-present help in time of trouble, full of mercy and grace, the Author and Perfector of our faith, the One who was, Who is, and is to come. We give honor, glory and praise to you Lord with our whole heart, your deeds are wonderful, we are glad and joyful, blessed beyond measure, and You are a trusted and tender friend, a strong refuge, our Savior from sin and death; we cannot be shaken because we are in Christ, righteous, forgiven, and justified before our Holy God not by our own merit but by the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ whose mission is restoration: healing the sick, raising the dead and forgiveness of sins. Your Son, Father God, who possessed all divinity, emptied himself by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. The son of man who is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature. He upholds the universe by the word of His power, and after making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, and there, He mediates on our behalf, He who has brought God’s children back into a right relationship with Him, which was broken by sin.

Heavenly Father, we hope in your promises. May we live a life of confession, repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation looking not only to our own interests but also to the interests of others, give us the capacity to love you with our whole heart, mind, soul and strength and help us to love others, seeking not our own good but the good of our neighbors, just as Jesus shows us in His life and ministry. Anchor our hope in you, you are the cornerstone and a sure foundation, a compassionate deliverer, our life and liberty. You are rich in mercy, and your love never ceases; great is your faithfulness. Your lovingkindness pours forth to those who wait for You–to the soul who seeks You, and we know that for those who love God all things work together for good for those who are called according to His purpose. We give to you, Great and awesome God, glory, honor, and praise. 

Lord, we confess our sins to you now. We are sorry we’ve allowed our sinful flesh and this world to draw us in and take hold of our affections, which belong to you. Each one of us is created in your image, for your glory, and for our enjoyment of you. Father, help us; we have a problem, we are corrupted by sin. We do not understand our own actions. We do not do what we want, but we do the very thing we hate. Wretched man that I am, who will rescue me from this body of death? We are sorry for the wrongful acts that we actively commit. These are contrary to the Spirit and involve either a conscious decision to act against your will or the sin of failing to do what is right and neglecting the duties and responsibilities that you put before us. Forgive us. Forgive us for seeking comfort from the idols in our hearts. There is none who satisfies and brings joy as you do. Bring us back to you and give us the ability, the will, and the motivation to turn from our sin and seek you, your peace, and reconciliation. Eliminate the sin in our hearts, conform us to the likeness of Jesus, and continue to fill us with wisdom, understanding, and deeper knowledge of You. Take us from our backslidden ways, set and guide us on paths of righteousness for your name’s sake. May our thoughts, words, and actions be pleasing to you. Help us be discerning and vigilant in guarding our hearts.

How grateful we are for our salvation given to us freely by your grace, through faith, in Christ alone. 

Lord, we thank you for hearing our prayers. You know each one of us, you know our hearts and minds, our wants and needs, and we trust and have faith that you have all of us in your mighty and capable hands. Lord, where there is sickness,we pray for healing. Where there is financial lack, we pray for abundance, where there is uncertainty, we pray for clarity, where there is unbelief, we pray for salvation, where there is discontent, we pray for contentment, where there is confusion, hostility, unconfessed sin, distance and bitterness in marriage, parenting, grandparenting and in friendships, we pray for honest and open communication, the truth spoken in love, respect, gentleness, peace, and harmony. 

To you Lord, we lift up our souls, in you alone we trust, make us know your ways O Lord, teach us your paths, open our minds and hearts to all that you have for us in our personal relationship with you, in prayer and in the Holy Scriptures. We want to know you, dear God. You are the God of our salvation, and we wait all day long for you. Help us do this well, we love you God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, in Jesus name we pray, Amen. 

_______________________

A prayer written from my heart to you! God bless you!

Future Glory

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Dear Heavenly Father, you are glorious! You so loved the world that you gave your only Son so that those who believe in Him, will not perish, but have eternal life. Once we walked in darkness, we lied and did not practice the truth, we were enslaved to the sin that we were conceived in, our hearts evil and without love for you. In your mercy and grace, you delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of your beloved Son. You have given us light, we are the light of the Lord and You guide us perfectly in the way of peace. We walk as children of light and for this glorious gift, this free gift of grace, through faith in Christ, we praise you. 
Dear Heavenly Father, no longer are we your enemy. No longer are we positioned in your wrath but by your almighty power that is at work within us, we are now positioned in your peace. We confess our sins to you, we ask for your forgiveness for the sins we commit against you daily. Unable to keep the Law in our own strength due to the sin that resides in us, we confess our desperate need for Jesus. Covered by His righteousness, we are forgiven when we come to you with heartfelt repentance. Oh dear Lord, what a war that wages against us and how we long to be free of Satan’s relentless and heavy opposition. Lord, we trust in the blood of Jesus, His resurrection, and ascension to your right hand for forgiveness. We trust in your declaration of justification for our peace with you. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we are living sacrifices devoted to you, the members of our bodies working in tandem with your will, plan, and purpose that you graciously show us in your inspired Word. Lord, we give ourselves to you, we ask that you purify our hearts, forgive us of our sins, and remove the guilt and shame that continues to tell us that we are no good, unworthy of your love, and ill-equipped to bear fruit for your kingdom. All lies of the enemy! Lord, we confess our sins to you now.
Holy Holy Holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come, the whole earth is full of Your glory. Lord, thank you that we are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for your own possession, may we proclaim the excellence of our God to all those whom you put before us . Thank you for calling us out of darkness and into Your marvelous light and we pray, dear Lord, that you work through us to share the good news of Jesus Christ to our family, friends, and to those in our community. 
Jesus, you are the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through You. We pray for the salvation of all those who live their life a part from you. Oh dear God, what they are missing out on today, tomorrow, and forever. There is nothing in this world that compares to the sweet fellowship with you. Praise the Lord, our spiritual inheritance is being guarded and protected by you and we cannot wait until the day we claim it in heaven; the day when we will see you face to face! Please take from the unrepentant their stony heart, give them a heart of flesh and put your Spirit within them and cause each to walk in your ways. Bring them to a humble posture of repentance and belief in the Lord Jesus Christ for it is by Your grace that we have been saved: by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. We are new creations in Christ, the old has passed away, the new has come. Father in heaven, we pray for conversion for all unbelievers everywhere; they do not have the spiritual eyes to see you, nor the heart to receive you. Please Lord, deliver them from condemnation and hell and give them salvation by your righteous right hand, just as you’ve done for us. Your Word says: What must we do to be saved? Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household. Help us to speak the gospel message to our family, to all those around us, may we have engaging, uplifting conversations of heavenly things, of Jesus Christ and His work on the cross to set us free from the curse of sin; give them ears to hear for faith comes from hearing and hearing through the Word of Christ. In Jesus’ name we plead, save them.
Dear Lord, thank you for the gift of your Son Jesus Christ. Thank you for Salvation. Thank you for hearing our prayers and answering. Lord, as we go about our days, lead us by waters of rest, and in paths of righteousness for your name’s sake. O LORD, the fiery trials in this life, the suffering and heartache we are subjected to, the grief, sickness and loss that drops us into despair and discouragement, sadness and sometimes even hopelessness. Father God, restore our souls in these tiresome battles, give us strength, greater faith, peace, patience, endurance, perseverance, and victory. You know us better than we know ourselves, you know our needs and we trust in your provision and tender loving care.

Just as a shepherd provides food, water, and respite to his flocks, You fill the creaturely needs of your children. As a shepherd leads his sheep down carefully chosen paths, Your Providence guides us. As a shepherd guards his sheep from danger, You, Lord, protect your children from evil and eternal death (Psalm 23; Gospel Transformation).

You have good things in store for us; remind us of your love and faithfulness, our future glory and please continue to speak to us through your Word. We need to hear from you! We praise you for who You are, for what You’ve done, for what You are doing, and for what’s to come. Come Lord Jesus, it’s in your holy name we pray, amen.

Suffering

Dear Lord,

May I not put any sin between you and me. May I not have any gaps of unrepentance that would create a distance in our relationship, not because you’ve moved away from me, but because I moved away from you. Lord, please bring to my heart any unconfessed sin so that I may sit before you with a repentant heart. Create in me a clean heart. O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit (Ps. 51:10-12). Help me do and say and think only those things that please you. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, like so many peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ (2 Cor. 2:15-17). May all be moved in such a way that hearts would soften to your glorious existence, not because of anything I did but because of everything you’ve done. May I receive by your grace and mercy forgiveness and reconciliation. You are my Lord and intimate fellowship with you is where I am created to be.

Father, in my suffering, whatever may be here today or on into the future, may I suffer with the same kind of endurance, patience, strength, and love, as Jesus sacrificially exemplified on the Cross. As Jesus knew the Father’s will, plan, and purpose for crucifixion and for sinners, may I also remember that suffering is not without a glorious result due to your power that is in it. May I be reminded that it is You who judges all injustices that come against me. You have the final word in all things, in heaven and on earth.

In my suffering, may my conduct be honorable towards God and people so that on the day of visitation, Your work in and through me, will be brought to their remembrance, and they will recall the goodness and glory that shone forth that simply was not possible by such a weakened vessel. In this splendid divine revelation, they would be more inclined to profess faith than to scoff and turn the other way. They would surely respond to your call of salvation with belief in their heart that Jesus is Lord and Savior and that by our omnipotence, He was raised from the grave and sits now at your right hand.

Their legal standing before God miraculously shifted from unrighteousness to righteousness because of the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. The status of their relationship with God moved from conflict to reconciliation ensuring peace and communion with God. Their very being transferred from the impending death of this world to the promised life of God’s new creational order, leading us to an increased appetite for the which pleases God and a growing distaste for that which does not please Him. Their perspective altered so their focus is no longer on outward appearance but on the radical interior radiance (Gospel Transformation; 2 Cor. 5:11-21).

May I be a testimony of God’s miracles of transformation in this darkened world and may I continue to burn brightly with the Word of God from my lips, in my actions, in my mind, and in my heart. Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Ps. 119:105). May I think of nothing else but this, not only for my wisdom, understanding, and deeper knowledge of God but to share with others as well so that they may glorify God and enjoy Him forever. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Eph. 2:10). How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who published peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns (Isa. 52:7). May I be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord my labor is not in vain (1 Cor. 15:58).

In this undertaking, may I not turn inward nor retaliate but suffer silently and with expressions of hope, joy, and faith in the will of God who judges accordingly and just as Jesus did, put my care and preservation in my Father’s hands. Jesus died for the sins of the world, He committed His cause to the Father, and those who denied, mocked, beat, and crucified Him, He left to the Father’s judgment knowing that He would judge as He saw fit.

May I walk in my Savior’s steps in times of suffering. May I entrust my life to God so that He would be known among those who are living life apart from Him. May He be elevated, loved, worshiped, praised, and honored as He deserves. We were made to be in relationship with God. When we live in the presence of God we are peaceful, joyful, gentle, and kind. We are moved to love God and people because it is the Holy Spirit that is at work within believers of Jesus Christ.

He will glorify me, for He will take what is mine and declare it to you (John 16:14). Of His own will, He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures (James 1:18).

Now that I am beginning to understand to a small degree what suffering can bring to my own life, I can now share this with others who are also suffering with great hope that they will see their crown of glory, their spiritual inheritance, the love and care of the Father who is diligently working to purify their hearts and making them ready for eternal life. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit (2 Cor. 3:18). In knowing this, suffering seems more palatable. It is not to cause us misery and pain but it is so others may come to know Christ, be comforted by those whom God has comforted, and made ready for everlasting life with God. As I continue my trek towards God, whether on the mountain or in the valley, may I follow closely in the steps of my Lord and Savior so that in my very small piece of God’s will, plan, and purpose, I may finish well in the faith.

Christ loved the church and He gave Himself up for her that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word so that He might present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing that she might be holy and without blemish (Eph. 5:22-33).

Praise be to God!

In Jesus’ name I pray all these things,

Amen.

Endure, Persevere, and Overcome

Where is my hope? Oh, Great and Merciful God, help me put all my hope in your Son Jesus Christ. Help me to shut up the enemy who consistently torments my brain with lies and accusations. His badgering has become fierce and His presence is difficult to withstand. Help me to raise up the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God and block His fiery arrows with my shield of faith. Holy Spirit teach me all things in this war with darkness and bring to my remembrance all that You’ve said to me. Help me to be patient in tribulation, to wait expectantly for your rescue, and be glad in each day for it is a day that You have made for the fulfillment of Your will, plan, and purpose. Thank you that by your power, I am a small piece of your story, that by your enablement, I can worship and serve you and others. Thank you that I am never without you, I can never be separated from you, and no matter the tactics of the enemy, I cannot be destroyed in my spirit. When I leave this place, it is by your will, not because of the thief who comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. It is you, Jesus, who came that I may have life and have it abundantly. Etch this on my heart, all of your Word, must be part of who I am, if I am to endure, persevere, and overcome. It is you, Almighty and Everlasting God, who decides where I am to go from one day to the next. You know what all my tomorrow’s hold.

You have searched me and known me, you know when I sit and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me (Ps. 139:1-5; ESV).

I will submit my expectations, my desire to fix all things, my pursuit of worth and equality and I will wait on you Jesus; I will wait in stillness and in prayer because You are the ONE responsible for my soul, to whom God the Father has entrusted to bring home in glory. By Your stripes I am healed, fearfully and wonderfully made to worship God; I am chosen, cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ and a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, used by God and readied for every good work. I am a living sacrifice to the glory of God.

In all of this I praise Jesus! Amen!

Wait in Anticipation on the Lord

Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life…keep yourselves in prayer in the Holy Scriptures, continuously reading and reciting the promises of God, wait productively with joy and thanksgiving, and receive by God’s grace through faith our Lord’s mercy in all things, which will, in His perfect timing, ultimately lead to eternal life with our Heavenly Father, along with all the other saints who have gone before us, we will worship as one, the Everlasting God.

Isn’t living in the presence of God superior to living here, in the presence of sin? Wait in anticipation on our Lord because He is the God of the covenant who will act in a decisive way on behalf of His people. He will bring us out of the presence of sin, He will deliver us from the desires of our flesh, our sorrow and pain, He will because of the blood of Jesus Christ, look upon us without stain and blemish, He will bring us to Himself and He will be our God and bring us into the land that He has predestined to be ours (ESV Study Bible).

Thank you Heavenly Father!