by Geoff Wiklund - On a regular basis people’s lives are changed by winning large sums in lottery. The research around that is not all positive, but what I want to raise is that our lives can be changed in a moment for the good and there is a gamble involved.
In my daily reading I saw Solomon pray one prayer that changed him in a moment of time. He had just begun as king and he had no idea what to do and in a dream he prayed:
“Now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”
The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. Then God said to him: “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you. And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honour, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.” (1 Kings 3:7-14)
One prayer upon his bed set the course of his life. He still had to walk in God’s ways and keep the commandments which sadly he slipped away from at the end of life due to the influence of the women in his life which were not according to the commands of the Lord.
So does a Solomon prayer exist today? I believe it does. It is often prayed in a time of need, stress or difficulty. I know that when I turned 40 I witnessed two pastors unable to repair their houses or cars because they had nothing. I was headed in the same direction. I cried out to God and He spoke to me through a friend. Don Haye paid for my breakfast and answered my question of what I should do. His advice was a word from God. It gave me a vision for my future financially that from that day forward I pursued.
My journey was not as easy as Solomon's. He woke up wise. I had to learn. But the fact was I was different and I have pursued what Don told me 24-years-ago and I have achieved it with God’s help.
I want you to consider praying a Solomon prayer that could set your life in a direction pleasing to the Lord. We read in John 8 that Jesus only did what pleased the Father. So often our prayers are about us. I want you to think about a prayer that has the pleasure of the Father as the uppermost priority. Interesting that this prayer resulted in Solomon getting the things He did not ask for as well.
Can I suggest you write this prayer out? We know about Jabez and his prayer that changed him. We know about Saul and how God gave him a new heart and he was changed into another man. I think that part of this is about having it written down and living out our prayer daily. For me to accomplish what God gave me all those years ago I needed to keep the vision before me and go after it. I know it was God that did it and I was privileged to have a part to play.
Jesus said He was never alone because He did and said what pleased the Father. As we do and say what pleases the Father so we also will never be alone in the journey. So along with your prayer it would be a great idea to consider if what we do is pleasing to the Father. Not just what we do but the manner in which we do it, even the motivation!
I think Solomon thought the task impossible. I know when Don spoke to me, his idea seemed ludicrous. I could not imagine how it could happen, but I believed God was able. Even to this day I am amazed, but God has done it for me and I believe He will do it for you. When we choose to please Him, He works with us and makes it happen by His Holy Spirit.
I find myself today able to do what the Father has asked me to do because I prayed a Solomon prayer 24-years-ago. So listen first, so that you pray to please the Father. I believe you can be changed as I was.
Geoff Wiklund is a popular PK speaker and itinerant preacher who brings a message of hope, love and encouragement.