This month's reflection comes from Lauren, Hope Nottingham's chaplain.
I was reminded recently of this story in 1 Kings 3: 5-14...
That night the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!” Solomon replied, “You showed great and faithful love to your servant my father, David, because he was honest and true and faithful to you. And you have continued to show this great and faithful love to him today by giving him a son to sit on his throne.
“Now, O Lord my God, you have made me king instead of my father, David, but I am like a little child who doesn’t know his way around. And here I am in the midst of your own chosen people, a nation so great and numerous they cannot be counted! Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?”
The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for wisdom. So God replied, “Because you have asked for wisdom in governing my people with justice and have not asked for a long life or wealth or the death of your enemies, I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever will have! And I will also give you what you did not ask for—riches and fame! No other king in all the world will be compared to you for the rest of your life! And if you follow me and obey my decrees and my commands as your father, David, did, I will give you a long life."
How extraordinary! God tells Solomon to ask him for whatever he wants. Seems risky if you ask me! Imagine the Lord making us the same offer: "Ask for whatever you want me to give you." If there was one thing, only one thing that you could ask God for, knowing that He would grant it, what would it be, and why?
We can pray that God helps us clear the clutter and gives us a deeper understanding of both what we truly need and of His heart towards us. That He would reveal to us the deepest, truest longings of our hearts and that we could hold that longing in His presence, trusting in His kindness, generosity and goodness.
Lord, we pray for our communities of hope.
Help us shape our own lives together so that we preserve love and cultivate Christlikeness.
Father, we ask you to help us progress in our way of life and faith.
Amen.
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