Category: Wisdom Prayer

Categories
Wisdom Prayer

Praying about Meetings?

Praying about Meetings?

Lord, I pray for wisdom for anyone meeting with a person of authority. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Nehemiah was a cupbearer to King Artaxerxes. Nehemiah became deeply troubled when he heard the wall of Jerusalem had been destroyed and the gates had burned. Prior to meeting with King, Nehemiah prays in Nehemiah 1:11.

“O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man (referring to the king).”

As the story unfolds, we learn that in this case, God heard and answered Nehemiah’s prayer.

Be humble and be bold when asking for God’s favor. Know there are three possible answers God gives to our prayers: Yes…No…or…Wait. Be patient.

Tell me what you think in the comments below.

Categories
Wisdom Prayer

The Key to Prosperity?

The Key to Prosperity?

Lord, I pray for wisdom for people who strive to be successful. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Is there a formula for success in Scripture?

God told Moses’ successor, Joshua, in Joshua 1: 8 (ESV),

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous and then you will have good success.”

Find a verse. A short one will work. For example, take one of the verses from one of the Wisdom Prayers.

Learn it. Ponder how it applies to your life.

Tell me what you think in the comments below.

Categories
Wisdom Prayer

The Witch At En-dor

The Witch At En-dor

 

In 1 Samuel 27, we learn David fled Saul, and David and his men went to live with the Philistines.

It is during this time that the Philistines decide to amass an army against Israel.

Because the Lord had cut off communication with Saul, Saul was unable to get advice about how to fight this opposing army. That is when Saul decided it best to consult a medium.

God forbade communicating the dead and other practices.

Even though Saul, himself, had banned mediums and the necromancers. Those are people who use witchcraft and sorcery. Saul goes to a witch and she brings to life the dead prophet, Samuel.

It is here that Saul learns his fate. 1 Samuel 28:18-19 (ESV) has part of the message Saul through the medium gives Saul.

“Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day. Moreover, the Lord will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me. The Lord will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.”

There are lessons here.

Do not be tempted to consult a fortune teller.

Leave the area if others ask you to play with a Ouija board.

If you have used a fortune teller or a Ouija board, ask God’s forgiveness and turn away from these practices. Trust God!

Tell me what you think in the comments below.

Categories
Wisdom Prayer

How Should You Act Toward Others?

How Should We Act Toward Others?

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who are in a position to do harm, yet do not. In Jesus’ name, amen.

In 1 Samuel 26 we learn that David is once again pursued by King Saul and three thousand of his chosen men.

David goes on a mission to infiltrate Saul’s camp at night. Everyone in Saul’s camp was asleep, and the Lord had made sure they would not wake up.

David got close enough to kill the King, but David would not kill God’s anointed.

Instead, he takes the king’s spear and a jar of water that had been near Saul’s head.

Once safe on the side of his own camp, David calls out and had a conversation with Abner, the head of Saul’s army, and King Saul.

In 1 Samuel 26:22-25 we join in toward the end of the conversation with King Saul.

“And David answered and said, ‘Here is the spear, O king! Let one of the young men come over and take it. The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the Lord gave you into my hand today, and I would not put out my hand against the Lord’s anointed. Behold, as your life was precious this day in my sight, so may my life be precious in the sight of the Lord, and may he deliver me out of all tribulation.’ Then Saul said to David, Blessed be you, my son David! You will do many things and will succeed in them.’ So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.”

King Saul and David appear to reconcile, at least for now.

David had the opportunity to kill Saul this second time, yet he refrained.

If given an opportunity to retaliate against an opponent, would you be willing to forgo returning evil for evil?

Take time to reflect on how David’s actions offer a model for how we can act toward others.

Tell me what you think in the comments below.

Categories
Wisdom Prayer

“Vengeance is Mine”

“Vengeance is Mine”

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who don’t take matters into their own hands. In Jesus’ name, amen.

David was bent on retaliating against Nabal because he rudely rejected David’s emissaries even though they brought a message of peace.

Abigail, hearing that her husband had behaved badly, went out to meet David and apologize. Her apology was accepted, and this prevented David from killing Nabal.

The Lord says the following in Deuteronomy 32:35 (ESV)

“’Vengeance is mine, and recompense,[a]
for the time when their foot shall slip;
for the day of their calamity is at hand,
and their doom comes swiftly.’”

1 Samuel 25:36-39 (ESV) explains what happened to Nabal and Abigail.

“And Abigail came to Nabal, and behold, he was holding a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. And Nabal’s heart was merry within him, for he was very drunk. So she told him nothing at all until the morning light. In the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, his wife told him these things, and his heart died within him, and he became as a stone. And about ten days later the Lord struck Nabal, and he died.

When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, ‘Blessed be the Lord who has avenged the insult I received at the hand of Nabal, and has kept back his servant from wrongdoing. The Lord has returned the evil of Nabal on his own head.’ Then David sent and spoke to Abigail, to take her as his wife.”

David acknowledged that God was responsible for avenging Nabal’s insult.

Will you to show restraint and allow the Lord to carry out his vengeance?

Tell me what you think in the comments below.

Categories
Wisdom Prayer

Rejoice in Suffering?

Rejoice in Suffering?

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who are suffering. In Jesus’ name, amen.

In both our physical or emotional suffering, God is with us. How can it be that Paul links suffering to hope? Romans 5:2-4 (ESV) says:

“Through him (Jesus) we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.”

Follow the logic: If a person suffers, they have to endure much. Endurance has the idea of being able to carry on even when things in life are difficult.

Paul says that during the process of enduring one is building character.

In the end, the character in turn produces hope. Don’t give up in the face of suffering. Have hope in life everlasting! Let me know what you think.

Tell me what you think in the comments below.