What Will You Ask For?

My words feel frail and lifeless. The answers I seek seem elusive. Amidst a quiet and confusing season, I struggle to find purpose in prayer.

The topic starts showing up everywhere—in the books I read, in the Bible study I teach, in the passages I study. Today it appeared again, and I decided to look a little closer at King Solomon’s sacred conversation.

My words feel frail and lifeless. The answers I seek seem elusive. Amidst a quiet and confusing season, I struggle to find purpose in prayer.

The topic starts showing up everywhere—in the books I read, in the Bible study I teach, in the passages I study. Today it appeared again, and I decided to look a little closer at King Solomon’s sacred conversation.

As I studied 1 Kings 3, I was struck by God’s initiative and invitation. God appeared to Solomon in a dream. God allowed him to ask for anything. And God answered his honorable request for wisdom.

When was the last time I dug into the depths of my desires and prayed from those places? When have I allowed God to expose my deepest needs and flood them with perspective? Before we can answer God’s invitation, we must evaluate ourselves. Purposeful prayers flow from an honest heart.  

God seldom stops with yes or no answers. Instead he invests more than we imagined. God says to King Solomon, “Because you have asked [for wisdom] … behold I now do according to your word…I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you all your days” (1 Kings 3:11–13).

Solomon prayed out of a heart set on service not selfishness. He wanted wisdom to govern God’s great people. And because of his righteous request, God gave what he asked for and then added all the extras.

Have you ever noticed how God offers more than we ask for? As I look back on every major prayer I’ve prayed, I see God’s generosity in the answer. I married a man with a missional mindset. We live in a home full of items others gave us. I write among women I respect and admire. Grace is written on every event.

Solomon’s story concludes with one final note. God initiates transformation through their conversation. He says to Solomon, “And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statues and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days” (1 Kings 3:14). God’s last blessing contained a condition. Solomon must serve God wholeheartedly.

The young king takes God up on his offer. In the next verse we find him in Jerusalem, standing before the Ark of the Covenant, offering sacrifices to God at the designated place. Solomon’s response is reminiscent of his father’s prayer following the Davidic covenant (2 Samuel 7).

Have you noticed that God uses prayer to test our truest desires? Will we ask for his service or our selfishness? Will we allow God to whittle away our wants and work on our wills? Will we obey his instruction or ignore his gentle nudge?

Let’s be women of purposeful prayer. Let’s dig deep and ask honestly. And let’s allow God to change our lives by first transforming us.