Day 151

Today’s Reading – I Kings Chapters 3-4

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, 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?”   I Kings 3:5-9

If you could have anything, what would be on your wish list? What would you wish for?

If we are honest with ourselves, we all play that game from time to time: What if? What if I won the lottery? What if I found Aladdin’s magic lamp? What if you were given one wish? Now some may think this is a silly exercise, after all it is all fantasy and it would never happen. Or could it?

The Bible tells the story of a man whom God granted a wish.

Solomon was granted one wish from God. What does he ask for? Wisdom but in Hebrew it actually means Solomon asked for a ”Hearing” heart.

What is a hearing heart?

A hearing heart allows one to hear and obey.  Solomon desired the ability to distinguish good from evil, right from wrong, truth from falsehood.  He also wanted to be able to hear his people, to know their needs, their concerns, and their desires.

Solomon desired divine help in carrying out the responsibilities of the kingship.

There are many things we desire in life.  Many things we would add to a list of wishes and wants. Perhaps, today you would even add the idea of “hearing” heart to your list of wishes.

We need not wish though for God has given us each a hearing heart. We just need to be able to listen as The Holy Spirit spirit speaks.

Perhaps we can’t hear because we have too much other noise in our life drowning out God’s voice.

Turn down the noise today and listen with “hearing” heart.

Tomorrow’s Reading – 2 Chronicles 1 and Psalm 72

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Day 150

Today’s Reading – Psalm 119

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Psalm 119:11

In our desire to live a life that honors God, could it be that easy?

Study God’s word – make it part of your life.

So, instead of asking God, “What do you want me to do with my life?”

How about reading God’s word to discover the answer.

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To better understand this Psalm, it is helpful to know that this is an acrostic poem, each stanzas begins with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.  In addition, the verses of each stanza begin with the same letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

Tomorrow’s Reading – 1 Kings Chapters 3-4

Day 149

Today’s Readings – 1 Kings Chapters 1-2 and Psalms 37, 71, and 94

Take notice, you senseless ones among the people;
you fools, when will you become wise?
Does he who fashioned the ear not hear?
Does he who formed the eye not see?
Does he who disciplines nations not punish?
Does he who teaches mankind lack knowledge?
The LORD knows all human plans; He knows that they are futile. 
Psalm 94:8-11

David and Solomon both must have thought, “How long will it take for these people to learn?”

Even family doesn’t get it. As David is dying and plans are made for Solomon to take the throne, treachery is at foot again.

Makes you wonder as your read the story of David’s life did Disney borrow the story of The Lion King from the pages of the Old Testament?

You fools, when will you become wise? 

How many times has God said that about us?
 

We see the folly of others actions so easily and miss the folly of our won actions.

If your life was a movie, how many times would the audience be saying to themselves, “what an idiot!”

Wise up.

God has plans for you and they far surpass anything you could imagine.

Tomorrow’s Readings – Psalm 119