THAT ONE PRAYER REQUEST THAT REALLY PLEASES GOD! (One prayer that has answers to every other request.)
1 KINGS 3:7-13
When God asked King Solomon to ask for anything, King Solomon asked for wisdom, he didn't just ask for wisdom to do his own thing. He asked for wisdom to take care of God's people. Wisdom to lead God's people the way God wanted him to lead.
*It wasn't about Solomon. It was about God's people.*
(vs 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?
King Solomon could have asked for anything, but he showed that he loved God, by wanting to take care of God's people before his own selfish desires. He put God first.
God was PLEASED that King Solomon asked for this. Think about this, if he asked for any other thing, God would have given it to him but would God have been pleased?
*See there are things you pray to God about that pleases Him.
*There are certain things you ask God for, that makes him happy.
(Vs 10)
The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this.
You see in verse 11-13 God was pleased, He told Solomon that "Since you asked for this and not long life or wealth for YOURSELF, nor have you asked for death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice.
I will give you a WISE and DISCERNING HEART , so that there will never have been one like you, nor will there ever be.
Moreover I will give you what you have not asked for - BOTH RICHES AND HONOUR so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among Kings.
When God is pleased with what you have asked him for, he gives you every OTHER thing you need.
He was pleased King Solomon didn't ask for wealth, He was pleased that he didn't even ask for the death of his enemies. You see KING SOLOMON ASKED FOR THE WISDOM TO CARRY OUT GOD'S PURPOSE.
*IS IT POSSIBLE YOU HAVE BEEN PRAYING FOR EVERY OTHER THING BUT WHAT MATTERS TO GOD MOST?*
You are busy praying for wealth,
You are busy praying for the death of your enemies.
*WHEN LAST DID YOU PRAY TO GOD FOR THE GRACE AND THE WISDOM TO CARRY OUT HIS ASSIGNMENT ON EARTH.*
WHEN LAST DID YOU PRAY TO GOD TO HELP YOU TAKE CARE OF THE THINGS HE HAS PLACED IN YOUR HANDS TO TAKE CARE OF.
Check your heart to see, If you have not been praying for what God wants, it's time to go back to God to ask for mercies because you have been SELFISH!! God was pleased in verse 11 that King Solomon didn't pray for his personal needs.
MAYBE GOD HAS BEEN ANSWERING ALL THE PRAYERS FOR THE PERSONAL AND SELFISH THINGS YOU HAVE BEEN PRAYING FOR , IT DOESN'T MEAN HE IS PLEASED WITH WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR.
The blessings that comes with praying after the heart of God is immeasurable!!
From what He told King Solomon in 11-13 you can see that God knew everything that He needed but King Solomon wanted to take care of God's people first. That absolutely pleased God. That he blessed him with everything he needed!
God knows your needs. Can you start praying to God for the assignment He has given you to carry out? Praying for these assignments shows God that He matters to you. It shows God that you put Him above yourself.
Stop praying for wealth, for the death of your enemies, even for health. Let the basis of your prayers be God's assignment. He knows you need good health to carry it out, he knows you don't need enemies disturbing you when carrying out this assignments, he knows everything you need to survive and He will even bless you with so much more.
Start Praying for what matters most and you will see everything working out for you! Every single thing!
Look at your prayer life, are the things you have been praying for pleasing to God or they have been selfish things.
It's time to change, it's time to use your prayer requests to please God. DON'T FORGET WHEN YOU PLEASE GOD THE BLESSINGS THAT FOLLOW YOU ARE IMMEASURABLE!
MATTHEW 6:33
But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.
-Okoh Bongos
