Praying Like Solomon

When Solomon became king, the LORD had appeared to him in a dream telling him that he could ask for anything he wanted. It was like an open field with no strings attached. Here is how Solomon responded:

"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. ⁸ Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. ⁹ 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

Solomon knew that his position would demand much of him. He probably wondered if he was really up for the job.

But note for what he asks: It's not for having a large kingdom or a mighty army. No, he asks for a discerning heart in order to know right from wrong. How many of your prayers have been like this one?

Solomon needed this discerning in order for him to rule effectively. But it was not just for judging others, but also for himself. Too often, we just think of the tangible things in life - a better job, better health, better living conditions - that need to be brought before God in prayer. Yet, we cannot fail to perceive the importance of how we live. There is something beneficial in being able to develop character through God's power. While we are apt to judge others by what they own, think of how important it is that you are judged by who you are.

Next time you pray, consider what you might ask God in regard to developing your character!

Answered Prayer as a Blessing

This Sunday I am preaching on being a blessing to others. This is part of our discipleship that we bring some goodness to others in our world. It all goes back to Abraham who was told that through him all the families of the earth would be blessed.

I can't help but to think of answered prayer as a blessing. It all starts in offering to pray for someone who has been hurting and would desire to ask for God's favor (blessing). When God's power is at work, when the prayer is answered, it comes as a blessing.

So, here it is. When we offer to pray for someone, that very action is the beginning of the blessing. We are showing our concern for that individual. The blessing gets carried out further when God's intervention takes place.

If you want to be a blessing to someone else, then think of how you might offer prayer for that individual. We have this vehicle that God has given to us to make an impact on the lives of people.

Agreeing in Prayer

Prayer can be a solitary activity. I pray by myself in the quietness of my home for my own needs and perhaps for the needs of others. My thoughts and words are the only things that matter.

But what if we were to add another person to the mix. Reflect now on the words of Jesus: "Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven." Matthew 18:19

There might be power in numbers. Finding another person who has the same "prayer wish" as you will have value. The church as Jesus envisioned it was not to be a solitary experience. We as believers make up his body.

Think of what it means to pray for others. At Savior Divine our prayer group meets on a monthly basis. Sometimes there might be as many as seven people present. We are all in agreement for whom we are praying. We want to see people recover from an illness or be helped in solving a personal problem.

By praying with others, we see ourselves in alignment in approaching the throne of God's grace. We also have the promise of our request being done.

Extraordinary Faith for Prayer

We pray because we believe in a higher power. We may have exhausted all of our resources and finally turn to God. God becomes our last hope in order to save the day.

Jesus was talking about what faith can do for his disciples by telling them that with faith they could order a mountain to be cast into the sea. This action would only happen if they did not doubt. And then Jesus continues by telling them: "So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received^* it, and it will be yours." Mark 11:24

When we pray in such a manner, it is as if time is contracting so that what we pray for is already ours! There is no need to doubt what God can do. If there were limitations, then we could not believe Jesus' words.

I think that sometimes we magnify our problems, thinking that they are too big for God to handle. Instead, we need to believe that God is so great that nothing is impossible for God when brought in prayer.

Where do you stand in believing these words of our Lord? Have you ever prayed and thought to yourself: "I have already received it?"