A SUCCESSOR'S PRAYER - OUT OF FEAR

DAY 317
FEAR FILE: SOLOMON
SCRIPTURES: I KINGS 3:1-15

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. 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 honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days.
1 kings 3:7-12

Imagine that you are the son of David, the man after God’s heart, a famous king and dreaded warrior, whom they wrote songs about. Loved by all and surrounded by mighty men. Now, you, the son born from sin, are the successor of his throne and his legacy, would you feel inadequate or intimated? A lot of us would feel inadequate because these are big shoes to fill.

Solomon was just promoted and made king. Sitting in the position, he knew that he may not have the capacity to accomplish what his father accomplished without the help of God. The instructions from his father were enough to start but they may not sustain him throughout his reign. But he knew where his father’s success came from, The Lord of Hosts, so he goes to him for help.

Two things we need to learn from this.

The first one, you already know: when you are facing a great responsibility or terrifying opportunity, prayer will save you. Secondly, the quickest way to get your prayers answered is not to make it about yourself but about the kingdom. The Bible records that he loved the Lord (verse 3) and only love can fuel a God-centred prayer. He was raised by the man after God’s heart, he picked that up from him.

God-Focused

You’ll be amazed how swiftly God responds when your HEART is devoted to the kingdom. God is Our Father. He’s a collective father to all of us. Most of the time we come to Him with our selfish requests and never once pray for anything outside of “me” or “i”. God is saying, I know what you need, but somebody needs to intercede for “Thy kingdom come and Thy will be done on earth. Our hearts need to be more in tune with god’s needs more than ours, we are made for Him, not the other way around.

So, if you are facing a promotion, a new level in life, or a new season and you are unsure how you succeed in such big shoes; may I suggest you ask God to show you how you can serve His purpose in that new place? You just got a new house or a new job or moved to a new neighborhood, pray about what He wants before you pray about what you want. And please do it in truth because God sees the heart.

Shalom.