One Prayer, One Wish

“Give your servant, therefore a discerning mind . . .” 1 Kings 3:9

Dear People of St. David's,

I pray that you are well and that your lives are rich and touched by the grace and presence of God.
I’ve been pondering the sermon I didn’t give on Sunday, a sermon wondering what we would ask for if we could ask God for one thing and know that God would give it to us. Now, I know, as many of you know, that God answers every prayer we offer to God. God answers, “Yes”, “No”, and “Not right now.” But what would you ask for? What is the one thing you would ask for if you knew that God would answer yes to your heart’s deepest desire or the one thing that would give your life complete fulfillment? Kind of a scary thought for some of us, but one that’s worth a little reflection and consideration as God is in the ‘business’ of answering our prayers and guiding us into a life that’s really life.

That’s the question God put before King Solomon at the beginning of his ministry as King of Israel, following the death of King David, his father. It’s pretty clear when you read over Chapter 3 in the first book of Kings that Solomon has given this a lot of thought. When God comes to Solomon and asks Solomon the one thing he desires, Solomon gives a little review of his life and what is before him as king. Solomon doesn’t ask for power or riches or an easy pathway as king or for a long life. He asks for the one thing that will make him the best servant of God’s people that Solomon can be – wisdom or a discerning mind. The one thing he will need to best lead God’s people and to walk according to God’s desire for his life.

And God seems to like Solomon’s prayer a great deal as He promises to grant Solomon’s prayer and as a bonus gives him riches and honor. It reminds me a little of Jesus’ challenge in the Sermon on the Mount, “Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things (of life) will be given to you as well.” Look for God and God’s purposes in life and all the other gifts of life will be ours, too.

One prayer, one wish in our lives can make all the difference in our following of Jesus and in the way we conduct ourselves on a daily basis. So consider well what you ask God to give you and may our prayer be a wise one.

Grace and Peace.
WFA