1 Kings 3:3-14 tells us about a prayer that King Solomon prayed to God—a prayer that the Bible says was pleasing to Him. Prayers that are pleasing to God are crucial when we approach Him.
One night, God appeared to Solomon and said, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you." Imagine that! Almighty, all-powerful God, who has everything, shows up and asks you, “What do you want? I will give it to you.” If that happened to you—if God appeared and said, “Ask me for whatever you want, and I will give it to you,” what would you ask for? When I thought about it, I realized I wouldn’t know what to ask because our desires keep changing. I also read a study that confirmed how people’s needs and desires evolve with age.
When you are a child, what do you want? You want toys. You don’t care about money—give a child $1,000, and they won’t be interested. A three-year-old-child wouldn’t care about the money; he would want certain toys. As you become an adult, your needs change. You want time with friends and the freedom to enjoy life. When you're a teenager, your desires shift even more. One study said that teenagers often prioritize relationships over other things. In your 20s and 30s, needs become more complex. You’re focusing on establishing yourself in life and may experience confusion about where you're headed.
In middle age, many experience a crisis of identity. You might not know what to ask for or where you’re going, but when you reach senior years, your desires simplify again. Many older adults just want relief from pain or to be closer to God. So, our desires change depending on the season of life we are in. This is a natural fact.
Many people think money can solve everything, but if you ask yourself honestly, money is not always the solution. At certain points in life, money is not what you need. What you might need is someone’s presence—a comforting companion during hard times. That is something money cannot buy.
There was a news report during the wildfires in the West, where people were given just 10 minutes to pack up their belongings and evacuate their homes. A reporter asked these people, “If you only had 10 minutes to leave, what would you take?” This question made me reflect on how brief and uncertain life can be. If your house were on fire and you had 10 minutes to grab something, what would you choose?
The reporter interviewed several people, and here are some of their responses:
Andrew saved his pillow.
Cheryl grabbed her family pictures.
Angel took her violin.
Karen saved her cats.
Michelle grabbed her Bible and purse.
When faced with life’s fleeting moments, what are our priorities? If God asked you today, “What do you want?” what would you ask for?
When Solomon was confronted with this very question, he could have asked for power, wealth, or military victories over his enemies. Instead, he asked for the wisdom to distinguish between right and wrong, to govern his people wisely. This pleased God immensely. As a result, God not only gave him wisdom but also wealth and honor beyond what he had asked for.
Our prayers, on the other hand, often stem from complaints or frustration when we don’t get what we want. James 4:3 warns us: “You do not receive because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” This teaches us to examine the motives behind our prayers. Are they aligned with God’s will, or are they centered on selfish desires?
Let me share a story. A person once came to me and asked for prayer because he was going to the immigration office with fraudulent documents to get a visa. He asked me to pray for him, but how could I? He admitted that the documents were fake. How could I ask God to bless a fraudulent action? That would not be a prayer pleasing to God. The Bible tells us that prayers made for selfish or sinful purposes do not please God. So, what kind of prayers please Him? Prayers that honor God and put His glory first. When we ask for something in life, we should consider whether it will bring honor to God or not.
In Psalm 106, we read about the Israelites who demanded things from God during their time in the wilderness. God granted their requests, but a terrible disease spread among them afterward. They asked for meat because they grew tired of the manna God had provided daily. While they got what they asked for, it came with consequences because their hearts were filled with dissatisfaction and complaints.
Sometimes, God gives us what we ask for, but the consequences might not be what we expect. We should be careful to ask for things that honor God, not just for things that benefit us temporarily.
Someone once said, “There are two tragedies in life: one is not getting your heart’s desire, and the other is getting it.” Sometimes, when we get everything we desire, we are left with nothing to look forward to, and that can be a tragedy in itself.
Jesus taught us to pray in a way that aligns with God's will, as seen in the Lord’s Prayer:
“Give us this day our daily bread.”
“Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
Daily bread refers to our basic needs. In the desert, God provided manna for the Israelites, but they were only allowed to gather enough for one day. If they tried to store more, it would spoil. The lesson here is that greed or asking for more than our daily needs can lead to negative consequences.
We should trust that God knows our needs for tomorrow, and He will provide for us when the time comes. Our prayers should focus on today’s needs, leaving tomorrow in God’s hands.
Aligning our desires with God's will leads to prayers that are pleasing to Him. God is generous and gracious, often giving us more than we ask for. Reflecting on my own life, I realize that God has given me much more than I ever specifically asked for, even when I doubted His goodness at times.
So, when we pray, let us be mindful to ask for things that bring honor and glory to God. Self-centered prayers do not please Him. However, praying for others, especially those in need, is something that delights God.
God is a generous God. A boy was in the grocery store checking out with his mother. As they were leaving, he noticed a bowl of candy that said, "Grab some; it's free!" He looked at the candy but hesitated to grab any. The store owner encouraged him, saying, "Go ahead, take some!" Despite the invitation, the boy still hesitated. The store owner then reached over, grabbed a handful of candies, and placed them in a bag for the boy. The boy’s face lit up with happiness. On their way home, the mother asked him why he didn’t grab the candy himself. The boy replied, "The store owner's hands are bigger than mine."
God can give us more than we could ever imagine, just as the boy in the grocery store realized when he let the cashier with the bigger hands grab the candy for him. Similarly, God’s hands are bigger than ours, and He can provide abundantly.
Let us, like Solomon, seek wisdom and ask for things that align with God’s will—caring for others and showing love and compassion, as Jesus taught us. As we prioritize God's kingdom, everything else will be added to us. May the good Lord bless us with these words.
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