What Are You Praying?

prayer cloudI’m talking about prayer this weekend – specifically Solomon’s prayer in 1 Kings 3:5-15. It’s where God asked Solomon, “Ask what you wish me to give you.”  That’s a pretty incredible request. While Solomon could have responded with a list filled with all kinds of things, he chose to ask God for an understanding mind in order to serve and lead well. He desired to discern between good and evil. That’s a pretty incredible response. And God gave Solomon his request.

This wasn’t some sort of flippant response in an effort to get on God’s good side, but a sincere request crafted from the deep condition of his heart. As you look at the narrative you’ll discover Solomon had been in worship. He’d sacrificed to God and He comes to Solomon in a dream. You recognize three distinct attitudes of the heart as you read Solomon’s response to God. He was grateful to God for the way He’d steadfastly loved his father and for where God placed him to follow David. Solomon was humbled by the perceived required job skills. He felt small, insecure and unsure in how to lead in this great task. You find Solomon overwhelmed by the responsibility and enormity of the task. He demonstrates a sense of dependence in his prayer to God. There you have it. Solomon comes from a worshipful, grateful, humble and dependent condition – the right place to listen and speak. The condition of his heart influenced his request.

When Solomon asks God for an understanding mind, he’s asking for a listening and obeying heart. Why does he want a listening and obeying heart? He desires to lead and serve the people well in discerning between good and evil. Solomon asked God to give him a listening and obeying heart in order that he’d serve well. That’s Solomon’s prayer.

This could be your prayer too. We’re commissioned to live the gospel in message and deed to our neighbors, our communities and throughout the world. We’re called to serve. There’s no better way to position our hearts for service than to ask God to give us a listening and obeying heart to serve others well.

I’m praying this prayer, “Lord, give me a listening and obeying heart that I may serve well.” I’ve already witnessed God at work in me.

What are you praying?