Only three weeks to go and my training at the School of Local Church Ministry will be over. This is a new season for me, personally and spiritually. And while I am nervous, I welcome all the changes with great anticipation.
This afternoon as I was reading my Bible, I happened to open 1 Kings 3.5-15, the story when Solomon was just starting out as King of Israel. It was a new season for him also. He was young and he was filling in a huge role his father, King David, left for him. When God asked him what he wanted, he only asked for wisdom.
The story shows a glimpse of what goes on in the hearts of people who are called by God. Like Solomon, everyone starts out with the fear of the Lord in his heart. Finishing the race, on the other hand, is an entirely different story.
I personally want to copy-paste this prayer today as I start my ministry. And on top of that is a prayer for the grace of God to carry me through the difficult times ahead and help me finish strong.
At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”
Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.
“Now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 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?”
The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both riches and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. And if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.”
Then Solomon awoke—and he realized it had been a dream.
Jojo Agot 