Done with doubting!!

Hi friends! It's a cloudy morning outside here, but oh how the "Son" is shining in my soul today! :) 

In the reading plan today, the assignment is 1 Kings 3-4.  As I read 1 Kings 3, I am intrigued at the conversation between Solomon and God. 

Why am I so intrigued? 

Well, the Bible is God’s living word.  2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.”  God breathed His Divine breath and life into this book for us to know Him more!  Doesn’t that get you excited?!  

Anytime I can get a glimpse of the “greats” in the bible talking with God, I get giddy inside.   We can learn SO much about our Lord and about how to talk to Him by “listening in” on conversations between Him and His servants in the Bible. 

This entire chapter is extraordinary to me.  The exchange between Solomon and God is beautiful.  Let’s hone in on 1 Kings 3:5, 7-9:

In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night; and God said, "Ask what you wish Me to give you." … Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. Your servant is in the midst of Your people which You have chosen, a great people who are too many to be numbered or counted. So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?

God appears to Solomon in a dream … I wish I could have these kinds of dreams every night! I love hearing from the Lord in an intimate, vivid way.  

And look at what God says! “Ask what you wish Me to give you.”  This seems too good to be true, huh? If only we had God’s attention and favor like Solomon … right?

But you know what?

We do!!

John 14:14: “You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”  To me, this verse directly correlates with Psalms 37:4: “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” 

If we delight in the Lord, in being in His presence, and in pleasing Him, He will make our desires His desires for us!  He changes and molds our hearts to be for Him and His glory!  And when we come before the Lord, asking boldly in the name of Jesus according to His purpose, God will honor our prayers and answer us. 

If we are truly seeking the Lord, He will hear our prayers and give us a heart like His.  He will give us the desires of our hearts.  And when we ask anything in His name, He will do it!

I don’t know about you, but this gets me fired up!!

Now look back at 1 Kings 3.  We can learn so much from Solomon’s response to God.  He comes in humility saying he’s a little child.  "The statement is actually Solomon's poetic way of expressing his inadequacies as he faced the awesome tasks of leadership." (Dilday)  He wasn’t actually a child.  He just saw himself as under qualified for the great task at hand.  He knows he can only do it with God giving Him the strength and power to accomplish success. 

And what does Solomon ask for next? He asks God for an “understanding heart.”  He desires wisdom and discernment as he leads God’s people. 

And how does God respond in verses 11 & 12? God grants Solomon his request.  And not only does He promise to give Him wisdom and discernment … He is so pleased with Solomon’s heart that He also promises to give him riches and honor, more than any other king in his days. 

Friends, how often do we live in confusion or doubt, unsure of God’s will for us? 

If we’re being honest, it’s probably more often than we’d like to admit.

If only we had godly wisdom and discernment in our lives, right?

How do we do the right thing when dealing with our spouse? Our children? Our friends? Our coworkers?

Well, let’s take Solomon’s cue! I don’t want to spend one more second in doubt or confusion! I want to come boldly before the throne of God and ask Him to give me wisdom.  This is something I pray everyday as a mother of four children and devoted wife.  I cannot do any of this with success unless I’m seeking God’s will.  His wisdom is perfect.  And I want that in my life!

All we have to do is ask Him for it! And if we’re in His Word and in His presence in prayer and worship continually, He is going to be pleased with us.  And He will answer our prayer!

God, give me Your wisdom today.  Help me have discernment in all things, whether big or small, today.  God, I desire to please You and lift high Your Name! Please hear my prayer this day and grant it, Lord, according to Your perfect will.  In Jesus’ name! Amen!