Today’s Reading, 1 Kings 3-4
Focal Scripture: 1 Kings 3:9 “So give your servant a receptive heart to judge your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of yours? ”
When you ask for something from someone do you investigate the motives of your heart? If you don’t I hope you begin to do so today. To often when people make a request they have an agenda. This agenda is usually self serving and doesn’t see the bigger picture. As believers we also make requests from the Lord and when we do we have to investigate our hearts and find out why we want the Lord to answer our requests.
In today’s reading we are carving up with Solomon after he has an encounter with the Lord. The Lord tells him that he can asks for anything and it will be granted. Instead of focusing on himself, he asks the Lord to give him wisdom so he can rightly judge and lead the people. Solomon made a request that was not for his benefit but the entire nation. He investigated his heart and his motives.
So what about you? What type of requests do you make from the Lord? Are these requests for your benefit or is the heart to benefit the people? I am not saying you can pray that the Lord do a specific work in your life. However, our prayers should be to glorify God in all that we do and especially in all that we pray.
To only way our prayers will change, happens when our hearts have been changed. By that I mean our desires must be aligned with the Holy Scriptures and the will of God. Our requests should not to glorify ourselves but it should be to glorify the maker of heaven and Earth. If you are struggling with your requests ask the Lord to seek out hour heart. Then literally pray the psalms, learn from David and others. See what heartfelt and genuine prayer looks like in your walk.
Tomorrow, I plan on reading 2 Chronicles 1 & Psalms 72
