For a long time, I censored my prayers because I didn’t want to be disappointed if they were not answered in the way I hoped. But through a friend’s encouragement, I stopped editing my prayers and started boldly asking God for my heart’s desire. I knew that God would answer according to His will.
Praying uninhibited helped strengthen my faith as I declared that God could do the impossible and then waited to see how things would unfold.
King Solomon is an example of someone who prayed boldly. May we do the same.
1 Kings 3:9 says: 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?
As a new king, Solomon had the honorable yet daunting task of governing God’s chosen people. Although his earthly father was far from perfect, Solomon had big sandals to fill as he reignd on the heels of his dad, revered King David.
In 1 Kings 3:5, God appeared to Solomon in a dream and said: Ask for whatever you want Me to give you.
It almost seems like a genie in a bottle kind of moment, but it’s more like a loving father placing his hands on his child’s shoulders, “What is it that you want? Is there something I can do to help you?”
Solomon responded to God’s question by asking for a discerning heart to distinguish between right and wrong. He asked for this so he could rule well and honor God in the process.
Ask boldly for what you need, act wisely as God leads. Share on XSolomon could have asked God for long life, wealth, victory over his enemies (or the latest, greatest model of chariot) but instead, he demonstrated humility and wisdom by asking for a discerning heart. Solomon was keenly aware that he had been called to a position that required more strength and insight than he currently possessed, so he asked God to provide what was needed for the task at hand.
Solomon’s prayer for wisdom pleased God and God gladly provided what was requested.
As we see in 1 Kings 3:3, Solomon was imperfect yet God still blessed him by answering his heartfelt plea.
Not long after Solomon received this gift of wisdom, he was presented with a perplexing situation of two harlots disputing over who was the rightful mother of a baby. Solomon’s verdict on this sticky situation caused all of Israel to be in awe as they observed the divine wisdom God gave their king to administer justice (1 Kings 3:28).
Solomon’s bold and unedited prayer for a discerning heart not only benefited himself but a whole nation. Share on X
Read the rest over on Kelly Balarie’s “Purposeful Faith” blog…
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I love this post. I can relate. When I was 11, I prayed ceaselessly for my aunt to be healed of cancer, but she fought a short battle and passed away. I’ve only recently begun to realize how that affected my faith. I’ve always known that God answers prayers, yes, no, or wait. But I was always afraid of the “no” answer, so I prayed prayers that I felt I was pretty sure would happen or I could somehow control the outcome. But I’m learning that I can pray big prayers and especially those things that I feel God has laid on my heart. Then I can rest in His sovereignty and mercy. I recognize that God may answer “no” and if so, I will continue to praise and worship Him because He is Sovereign God. “You are good and what you do is good.” (Psalm 119:68 NLT) If God answers “wait”, I will wait with expectancy to see how He will answer my prayer. I will wait patiently with joy and gratitude for all He has given me in my life right now. And if God in His infinite wisdom and mercy answers “yes”, I will give Him all the honor and glory and praise..
Thank you for sharing that…beautiful. I am sorry about your aunt.