An Understanding Heart

Transcript

Hello, my friend… so glad you're with me today. This is By God's Call — day 98, An Understanding Heart.

"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?" 1 Kings 3:9.

Picture the scene. Solomon has just become king. He's young, brand new to the job, and one night God appears to him in a dream and says a sentence almost no one else in history has ever heard: "Ask what I shall give you." Think about that. A blank check from the Creator of the universe. Unlimited wealth. Power over his enemies. A long life into old age. Anything at all.

And what does Solomon ask for? None of that. He asks for a heart that can discern between good and evil. He asks for wisdom to govern well the people who have been placed in his care.

Notice how he refers to himself: "your servant." Not "the king," not "me, who now holds authority over everyone." Servant. Before he is king in front of the people, he chooses to remain a servant before God. And that is exactly where real leadership is born — not in the scepter of authority, but in the posture of humility.

And there's one more thing Solomon says that reveals the heart behind the request: "Who is able to govern this your great people?" He feels the weight of the task before he feels the weight of the crown. He isn't thinking about how much power he now has. He's thinking about how many people are depending on him to rule justly. That's rare. Most people handed power think of themselves first. Solomon thought of the people first.

And God is pleased. Scripture tells us God was pleased precisely because Solomon didn't ask for long life, or riches, or the death of his enemies — he asked for discernment to do justice. And that is why God doesn't just grant what he asked, but adds what he never even requested.

My friend, this teaches us something deep about prayer. So often we pray asking for what we want. But what if, today, we paused for a moment and asked instead: what do I actually need in order to serve the people around me well? Maybe it isn't more money. Maybe it isn't more recognition. Maybe it's simply a heart able to discern — to know the difference between what looks right and what actually is right.

So here is the call for today: before you ask God for what you want, ask yourself what you actually need in order to serve well today. Write it on paper, or say it out loud: "God, give me a heart that can discern." That is the prayer that pleases the Lord.

Stay close to God. Pray — then act. I'll see you tomorrow, my friend.