Wisdom Tooth
So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great principle of yours?
1 Kings 3:9, Solomon
I’ve been thinking a lot about the things that I pray about, and the things that I present before God; the things that I desire. And I don’t know why (since I haven’t read this passage for a while) but I began thinking about King Solomon and his incredible reign over Israel. Under his reign and following David’s, the Kingdom of Israel flourished and was known throughout all of the world for its grandeur.
Yet when God asked him, “Ask what you wish me to give you,” Solomon never asked for riches, long life or power. He asked for an understanding heart to guide the nation of Israel. He asked for wisdom.
God answers:
Because you have asked this thing and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice, behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you. I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days. If you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will prolong your days.”
1 Kings 3:10-14
Solomon asked for wisdom and wisdom alone, and God not only granted him that which he asked for; he added unto him riches and honor, as well.
Since really digesting this passage over the last few days, I’ve really been shifting the way that I’ve been praying. The Word of God says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God,” (Philippians 4:6) and I do as such, and I pray that His will be done always, despite my own requests. But in addition, I follow the example of Solomon and I continuously pray for wisdom.
I find myself praying for the wisdom to see in the way that God sees. I pray for wisdom to make the right decisions in all things from relationships to ministry decisions, and I pray for the wisdom to hear and to be more attuned to the guidance of the Holy Spirit in my life. Since praying for wisdom in this way, I have found myself more sensitive to the nudges of the Spirit.. meaning I have been feeling the Spirit moving in my life more than I ever have before. It’s a surreal experience, and an honor to even heed these nudges in my life. I’m so glad to have a Counselor to lead me in the right paths, because I know how deceitful my own heart is. “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its way leads in death.” (Proverbs 14:12)
In asking for wisdom, I’ve noticed that I am more spiritually aware of the battle that surrounds me on a daily basis; the battle between my Spirit and the Enemy. God has recently been granting me this wisdom to see things from different perspectives as of late, especially when it comes to spiritual warfare. I’ve been more aware of the strength of the Enemy in my life and surrounding me.. it frightens me, but in realizing the power of the Enemy, in effect, I realize the unrelenting might of my King, who has already defeated the Enemy. This has been a big deal for me, considering that coming to this realization has shown me the tactics the Enemy has deployed on me in order to distract me from my Calling and my Purpose in my life. I am now aware of the tricks and the gimmicks he uses to pull me away from Christ.
Now that I am aware, now that I am wiser, I am able to fight the Enemy that much more. I thank God for granting me the wisdom to be more aware of what I’m battling. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of this wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12).
I realize one tool the Enemy was, and is, using against me is my own personal desire for a relationship. I don’t know how much of it is the Enemy, and how much of it is my own sinful being, but I do know that because of my wrong pursuits, because of my pursuing earthly men instead of the Prince of Peace, I have not been fulfilling my goal of becoming more like Christ. I have been heavily distracted by such temporary things, temporary men that may or may not support me in my relationship with and ministry for Christ. I have let myself fall under the worry, confusion and wrongful desires that draw me away from Him. Again, I fall. Again, I continue to stumble forward.
Wisdom tells me enough is enough, and that it is time to escape ensnarement and to pursue Him. Wisdom tells me to stop playing the naive girl, and to begin my calling in fervor for the Gospel.
For in praying for wisdom, God has shown me the urgency of the times that we are living in. He has shown me that the need for the Gospel of Christ is urgent, and sitting around and being lazy does nothing for the Gospel except to hinder it and to stunt it.
My heart for the Lord this last week has changed immensely. I don’t know what God is doing in me, and I don’t know why my heart feels like it’s burning, but I have been filled with such an urgency for the Lord that it’s all I can do to contain it. My life has renewed meaning to it; my Purpose and Calling has been revived and refreshed. I don’t want to waste my life anymore; pursuing earthly and worldly things in order to satisfy my own pleasures and human desires is a joke.
Wisdom shows me that the Enemy tries to bring me down by way of rumors and loss of reputation. Being the way that I am, my sin nature tends to draw on pride and status. I realize that God has been working in me to break down this pride by allowing my earthly reputation to have a bit of tarnish to it; He has been set on removing my honor so that I glorify in His. I have come to realize that God is the one who presents me with honor; He is the One who crowns me with glory. Although others might judge me and assume things about my life that are completely 180 to what I’m about, it is God who knows every facet of my heart and soul, and it is He who has the official say on my reputation.
In asking for wisdom, God has really been placing a love of Himself in me that I have never felt before. I feel like my love for Christ has broadened and has become more familiar with Him; fire is the only way I can describe it.
And I never want to be lukewarm, ever. I never want to be stale water. One thing I’ve witnessed as a waitress is that when you leave things out to sit away from both the cold and heat, bad things happen to it after a while. Mold doesn’t grow in the cold or the heat; mold grows in the lukewarm. The lukewarm also never gets hot; it always gets cold. In praying for wisdom, I’ve been praying a lot that He would give me the wisdom to see when I’m falling away from Him.
For my life’s Purpose is in Christ; to revel in Him and to rejoice in His presence. I want to share to everyone who He is, and to help them grow in an understanding of Him that surpasses their own human understanding. I want to exhaust myself in Him; to expend all of my energies on Him. To fall upon the Cross of Christ in all of my efforts.. is my life. It’s my drive, my goal. I want a life that is filled with and in Him and in Him alone.
True wisdom is in the pursuit of Christ. I pray that while I pray for wisdom, it is fulfilled in my desire for Him. I pray for this fire to burn hotly and brightly. I also pray that it’s not about what I can do for the Kingdom.. I pray that it’s about how much I know and love Him. I don’t want to care so much about what I can do for the Kingdom, as much as I do about how deeply and intimately I know Christ. I want to love and know Him not in a lukewarm, “Why yes, I love Jesus,” kind of way, but in a way where a lover loves his beloved and goes insane when he can’t find her.. passionately and fervently and in constant pursuit of Him is what I want to be; a hunger, a craving and a desire that cannot be quenched is what I want within me.
I want that kind of love for Christ.
Lord, I pray for wisdom. I pray for added knowledge in my life, to pursue you and to know who you are. I know I’m foolish many times, but please flood me with life; flood me with love and wisdom. Drown me in it. Help me to love Christ with a passion that cannot be distinguished. Take me away from the Enemy, who tries to bring me down with his tactics. Keep me wise and aware of the battle I’m in.
I love you with all of my heart, soul, strength and mind.
All of the glory, honor and power goes to Jesus Christ, the reason for my life and the strength of my soul.
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