Solomon

Read 1 Kings 1-God grants Solomon wisdom.

INSIGHT
Solomon's heart is manifested by the purity of his prayer. He could have asked for a long life; he could have asked for riches and honor. But instead Solomon asks simply for wisdom. What an honest and unselfish prayer. Being honest with God is not as easy as we might think. We all tend to live life with masks on-behind which the real "us" hides-to make a better impression on people. How foolish! God sees behind the mask—as do most people. We can learn from Solomon. God is pleased with honest, transparent prayers.

PRAYER
Offer your praise to the Lord for His wisdom to all generations of those who love Him: 
Thus says the Lord: 
"Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, 
Let not the mighty man glory in his might, 
Nor let the rich man glory in his riches;
But let him who glories glory in this, 
That he understands and knows Me, 
That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, 
judgment, and righteousness in the earth. 
For in these I delight," says the Lord (Jeremiah 9:23-24).

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin: 
Who can understand his errors? 
Cleanse me from secret faults. 
Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; 
Let them not have dominion over me. 
Then I shall be blameless, 
And I shall be innocent of great transgression. 
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart 
Be acceptable in Your sight, 
O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer (Psalm 19:12-14).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. 

Now pause to pray this affirmation to the all-wise Lord: 
In you, O Christ, are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (based on Colossians 2:3).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:

• Greater wisdom in your daily life
• Wisdom for political leaders
• Your activities for the day

Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord: 
To the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, 
be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen (1 Timothy 1:17).

Break Out

Lets break out today and love our neighbors as ourselves!  Do something small for a neighbor today like bake cookies, give a note, or mow a lawn to show them the love of Christ!  Get out there and serve.

Break IN

Today we are going to break into God's heart by "listening" for God. Last week we were "looking" for him in an effort to focus our senses to be fully aware of the God that loves us and wants us to experience him fully.   SO today, go outside and listen to the wind blow through trees, listen to kids laugh and giggle, listen to worship music, say the word mom and let it echo in your soul.  Or just sit in your room, outside, or anywhere you can have quiet and let God speak to you.  Push out everything else in your mind.  Focus on him and ask him a question and just wait for the response.  My favorite is to ask how much he loves us.   That usually sends me over the top :)  If God is alive in us and around us how better to listen to him that in us and around us.