What Should We Ask For?

“It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you.” From 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14

I think one of the key signs of growth in spiritual life is prayerfully asking God for an orientation or mindset that helps us navigate the unpredictable nature of things. It’s tempting to focus on outcomes that appear most desirous, but part of really aligning ourselves with God is to realize we don’t have the same perspective that God has. We don’t have it and frankly can’t ever fully inhabit it no matter how hard we try. So, the harder challenge is yielding our confidences to God, hoping that in that process we discover the trustworthiness of God’s love and care for us.

This is difficult because most of us prefer to be in control. We like to know what the outcomes are going to be, and we prefer to avoid pain and suffering. A great mystery arises when we realize God’s presence has been redeeming and transforming us in all our moments; both those that were joyful and those that were terribly challenging. A real leap of faith occurs for us when we start to, ever so slowly, trust that God’s redeeming power can in fact overcome the pain of the moment, even when we don’t see it immediately. To focus our prayer on an orientation of aligning our lives and our wills with God’s purposes is a key turn in our journey of discipleship.

Solomon gives us a model in this passage. He understands that wisdom is the thing he needs most as a ruler and does not focus on the obvious markers of what is easily desirable—wealth, long life, and revenge on those who have harmed him. Instead, he asks for a different perspective.

What might your life look like if you asked for wisdom on a regular basis?  How might you experience a change of heart when you focus less on grasping control and more intentionally ask to see the world as God sees?  I suspect that’s when the real fruit of the spirit will emerge. Might joy be an unexpected outcome? Might our prayer feel more expansive if we remain curious and open to all the places where God is showing up for us? At least for me, creating that space is a good posture to inhabit when I find my anxiety on the rise. God’s faithfulness is always present.  When I pray for wisdom, those insights come more readily.

Peace, Beth +