Dear Lord; Happy Tuesday Father!
Well Lord, first off I want to say a quick thank You for a break in the steamy weather we’ve been having. It’s still good and warm to be sure (90 degrees or so), but the humidity has dropped substantially and the over-100 degree temperatures have abated for the moment. Based on the forecast things will be getting warmer again soon, but nonetheless the intermission is very much appreciated!
Today Father, I was reading in the Old Testament in 1 Kings, Chapter 3 and came across something that touched my spirit and got me thinking. It was early on in king Solomon’s reign and while visiting Gibeon to offer sacrifices to You, You came to him in a dream with an amazingly magnanimous offer…
At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” – 1 Kings 3:5 (NIV)
Wow… Now that’s a proposition! The Author of all Creation asking “what can I give to you?”. For most people, this question would instantly flood their minds with thoughts of wealth, power, longevity or other earthly gifts. Solomon however, had a slightly different request of You…
“Now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties.
Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number.
So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” – 1 Kings 3:7-9 (NIV)
Such a humble, thoughtful answer he gave to You Father! It makes me wonder what kind of world we’d be living in if all of our leaders petitioned You in such a way? Or for that matter, what kind of world would it be if we ALL prayed for the strength, wisdom and temperament to serve others selflessly in Your Name…
It’s a powerful and inspiring thought Father, and one I’ll be praying on.
Amen.
~Phather Phil
Hi, I’m Phil Malmstrom, a.k.a. Phather Phil. I’m self-employed, father of two wonderful young men, an ordained minister who delights in spreading Jesus’ Message of Hope and Love, a science-fiction junkie, an aspiring photographer and above all that one of God’s Children who rejoices in His Blessings each day. 
Amen! It is a powerful prayer, and how incredible it would be if we all prayed it.
It is Jenifer, and it just makes me wonder what things would be like were we all able to find that humility and sense of service to others.
Have a Blessed Day!
amen our leaders surely do need prayers
They certainly do Desiray… As do we all.
Have a Blessed Day!
what kind of world would it be if we ALL prayed for the strength, wisdom and temperament to serve others selflessly in Your Name… Such a great question to consider, Phil. Definitely something I need to pray about.
It’s been on my heart as well Lisa…. We have so far to go.
Have a Blessed Day!
We all do need to pray that way! What a difference it would make.
The power of prayer is amazing in itself Heidi… Just think about if everyone had that same commitment and focus in their prayers… Wow.
Have a Blessed Day!
I’ve always Solomon’s response. A discerning heart solves so many problems. Much better than any earthly gift we might ask for.
Amen Eileen! We should all remember that example when praying.
Have a Blessed Day!
Yes Phil, this ‘cool front’ is a welcome reprieve, however brief!
If all our leaders, and if all of us, said this prayer that the wise Solomon prayed, the world would look like God’s kingdom on earth. Apparently some of our leaders in the U.S. are NOT following Solomon’s lead or we wouldn’t be in this financial mess. Some serious discernment is needed.
Agreed Debra. Just think of how things could be if we all worked together to straighten it out from a perspective of service to others and self-sacrifice. Something to pray for!
Have a Blessed Day!
It’d be a miracle if we all did what we were supposed to!
It would indeed Allison!
Have a Blessed Day!
I need to do better with my prayers. I want wisdom to live the life I’ve been given. I also yearn for a place to invest my heart. It’s been difficult for me to find my path this year… so undefined in this current season. Right now, I’m just working on a daily portion of grace and understanding. Trusting God that the rest will come.
peace~elaine
I think we all need to work on our prayers Elaine. Much of the time, we focus our prayers on a moment-to-moment crisis or desire, and don’t strive for those places to best “invest our hearts”. Thankfully, God stays faithful to us in our limited shells and provides us that direction and purpose that we need when we ask Him to do so.
Have a Blessed Day!
Phil,
When I first came to Christ I prayed about every material wealth I could think of to pray for, I really thought that was how it worked, and let me tell you something, I was a little on the salty side when He started taking away my stuff away. My prayers have changed dramatically over the years, I still pray that He provides for me and that my obligations be met, I still do at times pray selfishly but more than anything I want Him, I want to see Him in everything. That is better than earthly treasure I could ever have.
Blessings
Kandi, we’ve all been there. It’s human nature to want things for ourselves, and to desire our journey be made easier. Isn’t it wonderful though, how God works on our hearts and as we get closer to Him we realize what true wealth really is? 🙂
Have a Blessed Day!