WISDOM

Come on, you already knew this one was coming! Soon after Solomon became king of Israel, God appeared to him in a dream and invited him to ask for anything he wanted. Solomon showed incredible discipline in his request. He didn’t ask for riches, intelligence, power or strength. No, he asked for wisdom! Solomon humbly expressed his own inadequacies and asked for God to help him govern wisely. He said: 

“Now, 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?” -1 Kings 3:7-8

As the story continues, we read that God was so pleased with Solomon’s request that he not only gave him wisdom, but he also blessed him abundantly with what he didn’t ask for—riches, honor and a long life. What a God we have! And also, what an example Solomon sets for us of an incredible prayer request. Pray for wisdom! Immediately following this exchange between Solomon and God, we get to read about one of the wise rulings he gave as he peacefully ruled his people. Check it out. God can make you wise, too. So many times in life we have difficult decisions to make, whether about relationships, work, finances, and the list goes on. Pray to God for wisdom and discernment as you navigate whatever life throws your way, and then lean in to hear His voice.

A DOUBLE PORTION OF THE SPIRIT

Flip over a few pages from Solomon, and you’ll find the story of Elijah finishing his ministry as a prophet and handing the baton to Elisha. It’s in 2 Kings 2. Elijah was a prophet of great renown in his time. God used him in miraculous ways, and he had faithfully spoken on God’s behalf to leaders and the people with messages of tremendous importance. Long story short? Elisha had big shoes to fill. And he knew it. He also knew that the key to Elijah’s ministry was the power of the Holy Spirit, and before Elijah rode off into the clouds, literally, Elisha made one request. 

“Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied. -2 Kings 2:9b

Now, to be clear, in this moment, Elisha was replying to Elijah, who had asked him how he could help before he was taken away by the Lord. But although Elisha was not praying directly to God, obviously God is the only one who can bless His people with the gift and anointing of the Holy Spirit, and God did just that. When Elijah was taken into the sky on a chariot of fire, Elisha cried out and tore his clothes in grief and distress. Then, he picked up Elijah’s cloak and struck the Jordan River with it. When he did, the water split, and he crossed over. At this miraculous display of power, those watching could tell that God had granted Elisha’s request. 

The company of the prophets from Jericho, who were watching, said, “The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha.” And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him. -2 Kings 2:15

When was the last time you asked God to flood you with the Holy Spirit? The Bible says that the Holy Spirit is a counselor, advocate, interceder, guide, teacher and comforter.  Following Elisha’s example, I pray daily that God would give me a double portion of the Spirit. When I walk out my door for work in the morning, I acknowledge the presence of the Holy Spirit and invite Him to come with me into the day’s adventures. When I open up my Bible, I ask the Spirit to show me things I haven’t seen before. The Spirit dwells inside the heart of every believer. He goes with you, inside of you, wherever you go. Are you staying intentionally aware of His presence? The more aware of the Spirit you are, the more receptive and responsive you can be to His guidance, direction, promptings and nudges. So go on, ask God to doubly fill you with the Spirit!

FAITH

Another thing that comes to mind when I think about people in the Bible who made uncommon requests of God is the story of the man who asked Jesus to heal his demon possessed son. Mark 9:14-27 tells this story. The man had apparently asked Jesus’ disciples to heal his son, but they were unable to do so. The man then brought his son, who was thrown into a convulsion in Jesus’ presence. The man explained that his son had suffered from this condition since childhood, and then he used the word “if.” 

Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” -Mark 9:21-22

That word, “if,” pricked Jesus’ ears immediately. 

“‘If you can?’” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” -Mark 9:23

And I just so admire this father’s reply. Personally, I would have probably been tempted to backtrack on my words. Oops, I didn’t mean to say that, Jesus! I know you can heal my son! But this man did no such thing. His humble response not only acknowledged his shortcoming, but it also showcased his desire for more. 

Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” -Mark 9:24

He knew he had some faith, but he also knew that he had room to grow. Perhaps He believed in Jesus’ power from afar, but he had trouble trusting that it could miraculously heal someone so close to him. Perhaps he believed that Jesus was able to heal his son, but he doubted that He actually would. It’s tough to know exactly what was going through his mind, but his request for more faith is plain as day. Is there something you’re having trouble fully believing God can do in your life? Pray that He will help you overcome your unbelief! With increased faith, trust and belief, you will be an unstoppable force in the kingdom of God. As Jesus said, everything is possible for those who believe. Is that you? Can your faith stand to deepen, strengthen and grow? What a powerful prayer request this could be. 

Wisdom, a double portion of the Spirit, and faith. If these three things weren’t on your prayer request list before, I hope you’ll consider them now. Each of these requests has the potential to be life-changing. Do you dare to ask for them? If you do, I encourage you to take some quick notes in your journal or notes app to document God’s work in your life as He hears your prayers and answers them in His sovereignty. And as you pray, don’t forget to stay humble. Humility puts you in position to receive from the Lord and depend on Him alone. Each of the three men discussed above first recognized his own inadequacy. Solomon knew he couldn’t wisely rule without God’s wisdom, Elisha knew he couldn’t take over Elijah’s job without God’s help, and the father knew and readily acknowledged his own unbelief. When we humbly recognize our own limits, we are on the pathway toward letting God fill us in His perfect abundance. 

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. -2 Corinthians 12:9-10