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?"

Pray for us

As the apostle Paul draws to a close his letter to the Colossians, he wrote: "At the same time pray for us as well that God will open to us a door for the word, that we may declare the mystery of Christ, for which I am in prison..." Colossians 4:3

While Paul had been remembering the Christians at Colossae in his prayers, he now invites them to remember him and his co-workers. They, too, needed his prayers.

We who are pastors and leaders in a congregation do need the prayers of the people we are leading. We need to know we are supported by our brothers and sisters in Christ and that our names are brought before God so that we will receive the power to sustain us.

We note here that Paul prays specifically that God would "open to us a door for the word." As pastors and leaders are always searching for new opportunities for ministry, it is vital to have the prayers of parishioners that God would help open up a new avenue. Sometimes, a new door opened leads to a significant ministry for a congregation.

Do you pray for your pastor and leaders? If not, they would appreciate the support that you can give!

Being Alert in Prayer

As we now continue looking at prayer in Colossians, we come to the apostle Paul writing: "Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving." Colossians 4:2

Paul here desires his readers to be "devoted" to prayer. Prayer becomes a regular part of one's life. It's not just something that is used in emergencies. Prayer is viewed as what sustains our relationship with our Creator and enables that relationship to grow.

You might ask in regard to the next part of this verse: What does Paul mean by being alert in prayer? What he means here is being attentive to God or listening for what God might want to say. Oftentimes, we see prayer as a one way conversation. It is really two ways. We are also to be alert to what God might be saying in our conscience at the moment.

How often have you prayed by pausing during your prayer or even at the very end - to take time to listen? As you do so, you might find yourself giving thanks for what you have.

It is a discipline we need to develop. It is not easy in our fast-paced world. I encourage to be "alert" for what God might want to communicate to you.

Remembering Our Brothers and Sisters in Christ

During my vacation I read through the letter of Paul to the Colossians as part of my devotional time. I want to devote the next several weeks to what the letter says in regard to prayer.

The apostle Paul wrote in the opening of the letter: ⁴"In our prayers for you we always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints..." Col. 1:3-4

How often have you prayed with thanksgiving for the faith and love that the members of your church have or for what you notice in another congregation?

I believe we often take this faith and love for granted. But then, again, it is the work of God through the Holy Spirit who enables us to have such attributes.

I do believe we need to pray with thanksgiving, especially for those within our own congregations. They are our brothers and sisters in Christ. They did not just by chance happen to come to such an organization called "the church." The divine power of God was at work.

By praying with thanks for them, we are expressing our appreciation for what God has made them. By such prayers we, too, might be transformed in our valuing them and move us to give words of encouragement to them.