Wisdom Comes From God
"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?" -- 1 Kings 3:9
King Solomon, David's son, could have asked for anything. Granted, he was already a king. But he could have asked for more power, more money, more territory, good health, a long life, many sons, etc. But he didn't. He asked God to give him a "discerning heart," or wisdom. Wow.
God did grant Solomon wisdom. Plus, great riches and honor because Solomon had asked for something that would benefit others far more than himself. It didn't stop Solomon from making mistakes. He shouldn't have married women who didn't follow God. But he governed his people well. He was respected. And he was wise.
I want to be like that. I want to be wise. I want to know when to hold my tongue. I want to know the path I should travel. I want to make the right decisions at the right time. Except all these requests -- my wants -- are about me. And it's not about me. It's about God.
That's the difference between my requests and Solomon's. Isn't that often the case? We stay so focused on ourselves that we lose sight of God's wishes. Especially when what He wants and what we want aren't the same things.
The Bible tells us that anyone can ask for wisdom. Just check out James 1:3. The catch is that when we ask, we can't doubt or we will lose our footing on that solid rock. I'm a doubter. It's a sin that I struggle with every day. I'm the one always asking if I've got it right, if I'm understanding His plan, if I'm headed in the right direction. I figure that sometimes He just wants me to shut up and do it already.
The hard part for me is going against what other people see. I try to stay true to God's wishes, all the while I'm battling the forces of Satan who would destroy me. It isn't an easy journey. It's not meant to be. So I stay focused on God. He promised to lead me and guide me and, one day, welcome me home.
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