Solomon's Prayer
Solomon had a different kind of conversation with God. The Bible said that God appeared to Solomon in a dream, and Solomon responded to His request to ask for one thing.(I Kings 3:9,10) Since they were conversing, I call that a prayer, even though it was very different from a normal prayer. God answered his prayer in an extraordinary way, so we need to examine how Solomon prayed.
Solomon prayed from a humble heart. He addressed God as His Master with Solomon being God's servant. God loves to hear prayers from the humble. In fact, He loves to exalt the humble, which is just what He did for Solomon.
Solomon did not doubt God's ability to grant his request. He knew God's power and wisdom, because he had observed how God worked in his father David's life. Now, that he was king, he knew he must depend on God just like David. God longs for us to pray in faith, not looking at our problems, but at His ability to solve them.
Solomon asked for an unselfish request. He did not ask for himself, so much as he asked for what was best for God's people. He asked for an understanding heart to judge the people. God is impressed when we pray unselfishly. In fact, God doesn't answer selfish prayers according to James. Also, James told us that God loves to give His wisdom abundantly to anyone who asks for it. He knows we need to see things as He does, so we can navigate through life in His will, so He is quick to grant wisdom and understanding that only He can give.
See what I mean. We need to pray like Solomon did at the beginning of his reign. Then, God will grant our requests and sometimes, He will give us even more like He did for Solomon.
Tomorrow, I intend to read I Kings 6-8.
Solomon prayed from a humble heart. He addressed God as His Master with Solomon being God's servant. God loves to hear prayers from the humble. In fact, He loves to exalt the humble, which is just what He did for Solomon.
Solomon did not doubt God's ability to grant his request. He knew God's power and wisdom, because he had observed how God worked in his father David's life. Now, that he was king, he knew he must depend on God just like David. God longs for us to pray in faith, not looking at our problems, but at His ability to solve them.
Solomon asked for an unselfish request. He did not ask for himself, so much as he asked for what was best for God's people. He asked for an understanding heart to judge the people. God is impressed when we pray unselfishly. In fact, God doesn't answer selfish prayers according to James. Also, James told us that God loves to give His wisdom abundantly to anyone who asks for it. He knows we need to see things as He does, so we can navigate through life in His will, so He is quick to grant wisdom and understanding that only He can give.
See what I mean. We need to pray like Solomon did at the beginning of his reign. Then, God will grant our requests and sometimes, He will give us even more like He did for Solomon.
Tomorrow, I intend to read I Kings 6-8.