Sheen
What do you usually pray for on your birthday?
I don’t really remember what I used to pray when I was a kid. Maybe just like what others asked for: new toys/stuff, clothes, a trip somewhere, money, etc. As we grow up and mature, our prayers change. When we were young we used to ask for little things, but now we pray for big things.
Now I’m officially 29! Yes Happy Birthday to me! Hihi Thank You Lord for the life you have given me!
And I have so many requests to God! Wishes that I hope He could grant as soon as possible. However, God’s timetable is not the same as ours. He knows the perfect time to answer (or not to grant) our prayers. We just have to wait and trust His timing and perfect will.
The Prayer of King Solomon
As I was reading the book of 1 Kings chapter 8, I was amazed by the prayer of King Solomon as he blessed and dedicate the whole Israel to the Lord. Part of his prayer is this:
56 “Praise be to the Lord, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses. 57 May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us nor forsake us. 58 May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in obedience to him and keep the commands, decrees and laws he gave our ancestors.
59 And may these words of mine, which I have prayed before the Lord, be near to the Lord our God day and night, that he may uphold the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel according to each day’s need, 60 so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God and that there is no other. 61 And may your hearts be fully committed to the Lord our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time.”
He blessed the Lord and prayed for the people. He acknowledged God’s faithfulness to them. In this prayer he also had five basic requests where we can pattern our prayers.
Five Basic Prayers of King Solomon
1. Pray for God’s Presence
King Solomon asked in prayer that God may not leave them nor forsake them (v57). I believe this is one of the most important thing we could ever pray. I can’t even imagine my life without God. How can I ever face all my troubles and trials without Him in my life? I know it sounds exaggerated but that’s the truth. Because if it’s not that important why would even the wisest man who ever lived asked for God’s presence? King Solomon understood very well that apart from God they could do nothing (John 15:5).
How does it feel like to have God’s presence in your life?
You’ll experience His great love and grace which you can share to other people. They are so amazing! Once you’ve truly experienced them, you’ll surely have that life-changing moment. You’ll then begin to desire what God desires.
You’ll have peace that surpasses all understanding. Your life may seem like a mess and you couldn’t understand why such things happen to you. But with God’s presence you’ll have peace.
You’ll have joy in the midst of trials. Some people would even be surprised that I’m having troubles in life because they couldn’t see it in me. I can’t just fake it that I look happy but that’s what really I’m experiencing. The joy they see in me comes from the Lord. Without Him I don’t know how I will handle such trials. Maybe I would look so downcast and hopeless . But God’s presence in my life enables me to rejoice even in pain.
2. Pray for the Desire to Do God’s Will in Everything
In verse 58, he prayed that God would turn their hearts to him. This showed how he trusted God’s will in their lives. King Solomon believed that He would only desire the best for them. Similarly, His will is only for our own good.
A lot of people run after success. They desire a lot of things in this world and do things that will make them feel good. I remember even before I became a follower of Christ, I desire to find a high paying job, get a good position, work in a very prestigious company, and a lot more that I thought would give me real happiness. Fortunately, I had a life-changing encounter with the Lord. I was never a career-oriented person like before. I began to desire His will for me, to seek His purpose and my calling in this world. Now I don’t just live, but I live to do His will.
3. Pray for the Desire and Ability to Obey God’s Decrees and Commands
Is it easy for you to obey your parents, your teachers, or your bosses? How about the rules in your school, or the company you work with? Even though the Israelites had God’s law and His presence among them, they still got attracted to other gods and worshiped them. Their disobedience resulted eventually in the destruction of their nation. Thus, King Solomon said this prayer to remind them of the importance of obeying God’s decrees and commands.
We have to understand that all our actions especially our disobedience have consequences. We may not experience it now but we surely can’t dodge the result of the actions we have made even in the past. That’s why we have to pray to have the desire and ability to obey God (v.58;61). It may not be easy but with God everything is possible.
4. Pray for Help with Each Day’s Need
King Solomon only asked God for wisdom but He gave Him riches and long life as well. With all the wealth that He has accumulated in his life, he still recognized that God is the provider of all their needs (v.59). On our special day, we could ask for a lot of things. Believe that God knows what you need and as you put your faith in Him He will surely provide.
We also have our wants right? Some people might complain that they kept on asking God about the things they want and still don’t have it. We have to remember that He will give us only the things He thinks are good for us. I know He’s not what we call “kill joy” because God also blesses us with what He knows will make us happy. His timing may not be the same with ours. He may not be always early but He’s never late!
I’ve seen God’s faithful provision not just to me but also to my family. There were times we were worried but He never let us down. His blessings come in unexpected ways. God still surprises me with a lot of things, even with what I’ve prayed for a long time ago. He always listens and He never forgets.
5. Pray for the Spread of God’s Kingdom to The Entire World
This prayer of King Solomon is for God’s Kingdom to be firmly established not just in Israel but even to the ends of the earth (v.60). In church we are always reminded of the great commission Jesus has for all of us:
Matthew 28:19-20
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
A lot of people are lost, hurting, confused, hopeless, and empty. It is our mission to share the love, the joy, the faith, and the hope we received from the Lord to them. The salvation we have in Jesus Christ is not just for ours to enjoy. We have to pray that God would help us to reach out to the rest of the world with His great love.
This prayer of King Solomon is not just for special occasions. Instead it should be our every day prayer to God. May it be your special day or not, let’s always seek Him and obey His will in our lives. This is what God wants for all us, to have The Heart That Is Good.
I love these. I have not studied Solomon before, and I had no idea so many of these gems were packed in there. Thank you for sharing this! I can definitely put it to good use.
Great to hear Brittany! 🙂 We can pray for a lot of things in this world, but why not pray for something that will last for eternity! 🙂