devotion

Bible / devotion / prayer — 2 Comments
30
Apr 09

Solomon’s one prayer

If God spoke to you and promised to immediately deliver on one prayer, what would you pray? Some may pray for a job, or a house, a spouse, world peace, an end to poverty, strength to just get through the day. Once even Jesus prayed that the burden be taken from him if possible as death on the cross was going to be so painful.

After videotaping a message for LifeChurch.tv‘s One Prayer project, I have the thought of one prayer on my mind a lot. Even this weekend I’m preaching at the mother church and I had to pick some verses from the first half of 1 Kings. This is where Solomon’s one prayer takes place.

I don’t know if I could condense my prayers down to just one if given the opportunity, but let’s see how Solomon responded:

    1 Kings 3:5-12 NIV:

    5 At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”

    6 Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.

    7 “Now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 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?”

    10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.

Solomon was so honored by God that he only wanted what God wanted. In verse 9 his prayer is that God grant him a discerning heart to govern his people and to distinguish between right and wrong. How humble and noble is that? He didn’t ask for wealth or obedience from his servants or long life or anything practical from a human perspective. He just wanted to be wise. So often, after seeking things from God, in the end, wouldn’t it have been better had we just asked for wisdom and discernment?

I have such a long list of things I’d like to have for my life, my family, my business, and the church plant. Usually at the top of that list is something that money can buy. However, today I need to re-direct those thoughts into seeking God’s wisdom and asking him to give me a discerning heart. Help me to cut through the garbage and focus on things that money can’t buy. Put my sights not on the silver and gold and things that moth and rust can destroy, but turn to heavenly things and trust that God will give me all that is needed to do his will.

In light of Solomon’s wise choice for his prayer, if God were to grant you one prayer that he would immediately deliver upon, what would you pray?

PS. In honor of Solomon’s humbleness and humility, immediately following the passage above, in verse 13 God tells Solomon: “Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both riches and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings.”

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13
Apr 09

Wax on…wax off

Ever had a time when you were forced to do a bunch of steps you felt were unnecessary before having a chance to do that which you felt you could do all along? There is something about the process that just seems so demeaning and unfair.

The funny thing about having to go through these things first, is that I have yet to hear of anyone that complains about it in the end. Once the preliminary work is done, we get the pay off from our persistence. We didn’t know it beforehand, but as a result of the long and seemingly-unreasonable process we are better equipped to do the work without wavering and failing. The persistence pays off!

I’m reminded of the story from The Karate Kid where Daniel-san goes to Mr. Miyagi to learn karate. Instead, Miyagi shows Daniel the floor of his home and asks him to get on his hands and knees and sand it. Daniel also gets to wash Miyagi’s fleet of old, dirty cars and give them a coat of wax. Daniel-san feels like he is being taken for granted as free labor doing Miyagi’s menial work. How wrong Daniel-san was.

Jesus called upon a rich young ruler to take the Daniel-san challenge in Mark 10:17-21:

17As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

18“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.’[a]”

20“Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

21Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Jesus takes a rich young ruler who believes he has everything he needs to know eternal life. He has trained and learned from the Jewish law and has upheld it. All he needs is the blessing from his master and it will be done. However, the master tells him that he still needs to learn more, but first he must give up what is most-important to him and become humble. With that, we learn the young ruler just couldn’t get himself to give up his riches to find the great reward:

22At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

23Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

Are we willing to give up our riches (or our: pride, comfort, secure job, worldly relationships, home) in order to become humble and learn the way of the master Christ Jesus? Or do we come to him with our religion and our thoughts of being good-hearted and believe that we deserve entrance into the kingdom of heaven on our terms?

Unfortunately for us as human flesh, it requires discipline, faithfulness and humbleness to obtain greatness. Fortunately for us as human flesh, God knew we couldn’t make it on our own and sent his Son Jesus to intercede for us--he is our peace, hope, comforter, and rock of support. All we have to do is walk away from the things we cling to in this world and follow our master and continue learning. Repeat after me…

    wax on…wax off.
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1
Feb 09

How to read your Bible for daily devotions: Day Seven

Guest blogger: Rick Osborne
website/blog: http://rick-osborne.com
twitter: @rickosborne

Day Seven
conclusion

• Slowly read Philippians 4:1-20 to help you get a context for today’s reading.
• Next pray and sincerely ask God to plant his Word in you and change you into the person he created you to be. Don’t just say the words; he’s right there with you, take a few minutes and talk to him from your heart. (If you’re having trouble believing that you can change ask him for help with that as well.)
• Now read just verses 14–20. Read them slowly and think over what is being said. Read them again and again.

14. Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.

15. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only;

16. for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need.

17. Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account.

18. I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.

19. And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

20. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

• Now ask yourself questions and discuss the answers with God. Today I’m not providing the question, I think you’ve got the idea.
• Prayerfully read the verses again and ask yourself which verse or phrase hit you as something that you should apply to your own life and pray about?
• Finally what are you going to do about it? Talk to God, decide and go do it.
• And finally, if you were previously racing through your devotional Bible readings don’t go back. Continue to allow God to transform you with his Word.

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31
Jan 09

How to read your Bible for daily devotions: Day Six

Guest blogger: Rick Osborne
website/blog: http://rick-osborne.com
twitter: @rickosborne

Day six


• Slowly read Philippians 4:1-20 to help you get a context for today’s reading.
• Next pray and sincerely ask God to plant his Word in you and change you into the person he created you to be. Don’t just say the words; he’s right there with you, take a few minutes and talk to him from your heart. (If you’re having trouble believing that you can change ask him for help with that as well.)
• Now read just verses 10 – 13.. Read them slowly and think over what is being said. Read them again and again.

10. I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.

11. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

12. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

13. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

• Now ask yourself questions and discuss the answers with God. Here are some that you can start with.
• Do I show concern, care and appreciation for my Spiritual leaders?
• Am I learning to be content no matter what my circumstances? What does that look like?
• Am I content with what I have?
• Am I content with my life?
• Does that mean we should never want more or just that we should be content at every point because God is faithful?
• Prayerfully read the verses again and ask yourself which of the questions did you answer in a way that you made you realize that a change needs to happen?
• Finally what are you going to do about it? Talk to God, decide and go do it.

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30
Jan 09

How to read your Bible for daily devotions: Day Five

Guest blogger: Rick Osborne
website/blog: http://rick-osborne.com
twitter: @rickosborne

Day five


• Slowly read Philippians 4:1-20 to help you get a context for today’s reading.
• Next pray and sincerely ask God to plant his Word in you and change you into the person he created you to be. Don’t just say the words; he’s right there with you, take a few minutes and talk to him from your heart. (If you’re having trouble believing that you can change ask him for help with that as well.)
• Now read just verse 9. Read it slowly and think over what is being said. Read them again and again.

9. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me–put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

• Now ask yourself questions and discuss the answers with God. Here are some that you can start with.
• Am I putting into practice the things that I’ve learned from my spiritual leaders and God’s Word in the past?
• Are there things that I’ve let slide?
• Are there things in my life that I’m doing and/or not doing that I’ve never changed but I know that I need to?
• Have I read Paul’s letters with the purpose of putting all that he says into practice?
• I can’t be perfect overnight, but do I have a peace from God that I’m actively seeking him and letting him change me in all areas that he’s encouraging and/or convicting me in?
• Do I have peace from God that I’m cooperating with him daily as he’s changing me?
• Prayerfully read the verse again and ask yourself which of the questions did you answer in a way that you made you realize that a change needs to happen?
• Finally what are you going to do about it? Talk to God, decide and go do it.

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