In Beth Moore’s book, “All My Knotted-Up Life,” she talks about how when she was younger, she prayed for a love of the Bible, of God’s word.
When Solomon was appointed King, he asked God for wisdom:
1 Kings 3: 7-12
“ 7 And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. 9 Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”
10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11 And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, 12 behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.”
Sometimes powerful prayers are simple requests to our Father.
This played out recently in my Bible reading.
I was having a hard time getting through the book of Jeremiah. I felt like I couldn’t hear or learn in the text. I wanted to love the scriptures, but I couldn’t focus or connect.
I had a thought: Beth Moore prayed for a love of the scriptures and look at her! Solomon asked for wisdom!
So, I prayed:
“God please give me love for Your Word, give me understanding of this book. I want to know You, Your heart, and Your character.”
In that sitting, I received a flood of empathy: I am praying to the SAME God of the Old Testament. He loved the people in Jeremiah. He had blessings, a hope, and a future for them but they turned to idols.
War and destruction were against the principalities that they turned to. But he had plans for hope and a future for his people. He loved them.
It then brought me to thankfulness for Jesus.
Thank You, Jesus, for the blood applied to the world, to my life.
God sent his Son to PAY for my sins; to cover the sins of the world.
We have Jesus, yet we still turn to idols. Idols of work, money, perfection, a clean house. I think: If I have these things, then I’ll have freedom.
Jesus is our freedom.
My heart turned from friction of struggling to read through Jeremiah to a heart of tenderness, sympathy, and gratitude to a God who saw the world’s depravity and sent His Son to redeem us.
Our simple prayers are powerful, because we serve a powerful God.
Thank you, Father.
We want to thank Lori Johnson for sharing this post.
Women's Ministry 