A Graceful Wreath

In Proverbs 1 we read great imagery about grace.

Hear, my son, your father’s instruction And do not forsake your mother’s teaching;

 Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head And ornaments about your neck.

My daughter’s little girl loves to stand in my closet and stare at my necklaces. She looks them over and points out ones she’d like to drape around her own neck.  The look on her eyes as she wonders and chooses makes me melt, and I pick out one and let her wear it.  It warms my heart that she enjoys wearing something of mine.

Good instruction that we receive from our fathers and mothers is like a pretty necklace for our necks or a crown for our heads.  In fact, they are “graceful.”

It looks good on us when we wear in obedience our Father’s instructions as well.  It’s an adornment that others see and stop to adore, wonder, and want to wear…as well.

Is your “closet” full of grace for your children?  Are you constantly peering into your Father’s closet to see what of his that you can wear?

It might be something to think about and do!

Grace is Given

Psalm 84 says The Lord gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.  O Lord of hosts, How blessed is the man who trusts in You!

I love the word “grace.”  It’s a great name for a little girl, it’s something dancers need if they want to be good at their art, and it’s a gift from God he freely gives.  But it’s not something we can borrow today for what “might” happen tomorrow.  And we can’t live on yesterday’s grace, for when we need it today.

The Lord gives grace.  He doesn’t keep his fists closed and refuse to open his hands to us.  

Those who acknowledge him and love Him receive everything good because of his grace.

By his grace are we saved. From death.  From ourselves.  From sin.

And besides that, we are blessed.

Do you need a cup of grace today?  

Ask The Lord who grants us grace daily for all that we need.

Dedication Prayer

Now Solomon lays out specific request to God in his prayer in II Chronicles 6:

If sin occurs, please forgive us.

If rain is lacking, forgive us, and open the heavens.

If famine occurs, show us our errors, forgive us, teach us your ways, and provide.

If foreigners show up, hear our prayers so they too may believe.

If we go to battle where you send us, show up and maintain our cause.

Every request is made in humility and repentance and asking God for his mercy, his ways, and his purposes.

When we pray, our hearts must always be turned in a posture of repentance for any wrongdoing, poor attitude, or sin against God or a neighbor.  In keeping our hearts pure before him, we in turn are able to pray about outward things that concern us, knowing He hears and will answer.

It’s all about Him, His purposes, and His goodness.  

Even when we are in need.  

None Like You

After Solomon asked God for wisdom and God granted that request, and after Solomon built the temple and all of the people praised God and his glory rested among them, then Solomon prayed like this…

He “… knelt on his knees in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven.  He said, “O Lord, the God of Israel, there is no god like You in heaven or on earth, keeping covenant and showing loving kindness to Your servants who walk before You with all their heart; who has kept with Your servant David, my father, that which You have promised him; indeed You have spoken with Your mouth and have fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is this day.”

Kneeling isn’t something we see so much of today, but it’s obviously worldwide a symbol of humility.  

Solomon knelt, and he also spread his hands toward heaven, acknowledging surrender and praise to God.  

Then he spoke about the character of God – he keeps covenant and shows loving kindness to those who walk with Him with all their heart.  

He recalls God’s faithfulness.

And we should do so too.

Can't Stand It

In 2 Chronicles 5 we read, ^“...in unison when the trumpeters and the singers were to make themselves heard with one voice to praise and to glorify the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice accompanied by trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and when they praised the Lord saying, “He indeed is good for His lovingkindness is everlasting,” then the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.

After Solomon finished the work of building the temple, the people began to praise and shout to the Lord for his goodness and his lovingkindness.  They accompanied their voices with instruments of music.  So they obeyed, they gave the honor to God, and they proclaimed his character aloud together.

And what happened?

The glory of the Lord filled the house, so much the priests “could not stand to minister.” Now that’s a picture!

God responds to his people by showing up in glory when they praise him, prepare a place for him to dwell, and proclaim who He is.  They were also praising in once voice.

I’d say their praise and prayers were effective.  

How do we measure the results of effective prayer? 

God’s glory comes – his magnificence and beauty – and nothing else compares to it – and we are forever changed.

Because of This

II Chronicles 1:11 says,  God said to Solomon, “Because you had this in mind, and did not ask for riches, wealth or honor, or the life of those who hate you, nor have you even asked for long life, but you have asked for yourself wisdom and knowledge that you may rule My people over whom I have made you king,  wisdom and knowledge have been granted to you. And I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings who were before you has possessed nor those who will come after you.”

In yesterday’s devo we saw that God granted Solomon the privilege of asking of God what he needed, and Solomon asked for wisdom.  Today, we read God’s response.

Here listed are the reasons God answered Solomon’s prayer:

Because he didn’t ask for his own exaltation (riches, wealth, honor)

Because he didn’t ask for punishment on his enemies

Because he didn’t ask for his own longevity of life

Because he DID ask for wisdom and knowledge to rule over what GOD had given him

I believe one prayer request that is always answered is when we ask for wisdom in raising our kids, in making decisions, and in our business and affairs of life…all for the glory of God.

And look what else God granted Solomon – the riches, wealth and honor – the things he did not seek first.

God says to seek him first and all the other “stuff” will be added. 

Do you lack wisdom?  Ask God.  He gives liberally.

Give me Wisdom

Skipping now over to II Chronicles I we read of amazing discourse between God and Solomon.

 In that night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask what I shall give you.” Solomon said to God, “You have dealt with my father David with great lovingkindness, and have made me king in his place. Now O Lord God, Your promise to my father David is fulfilled, for You have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth.  Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people, for who can rule this great people of Yours?”

Have you ever heard God just tell you such a directive?

Solomon, instead of asking for material things or long life or anything like that, asks for wisdom.

God says he will give us the desires of our hearts, and that means too that he places certain desires in our hearts. In other words, when our God-given desires surface, they will be granted.

The Bible also says that sometimes we don’t receive when we pray because we ask for things to consume our own lusts.

It’s hard not to focus on what we need/want with our eyes.  But somehow Solomon saw what he needed to rule the people well and that was wisdom.  He realized his own limitations and his need for God’s supernatural insight.

That is effective prayer.