Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
When Solomon had finished all these prayers and supplications to the Lord, he rose from before the altar of the Lord, where he had been kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven. He stood and blessed the whole assembly of Israel in a loud voice, saying:
"Praise be to the Lord, who has given rest to his people Israel just as He promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises He gave through his servant Moses. May the Lord our God be with us as He was with our fathers; may He never leave us nor forsake us. May He turn our hearts to Him, to walk in all His ways and to keep the commands, decrees and regulations He gave our fathers. And may these words of mine, which I have prayed before the Lord, be near to the Lord our God day and night, that He may uphold the cause of His servant and the cause of His people Israel according to each day's need, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God and that there is no other. But your hearts must be fully committed to the Lord our God, to live by His decrees and obey His commands, as at this time."
1 Kings 8:54-61
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
Over the last two devotions, we have examined the matter of prayer…examining where we can lift our prayers and how we can use prayer in a way that intercedes for others in need.
Today, I would like to conclude this three part series by not looking at where we should pray or ways we can pray but what state we should be in as we pray.
Let’s go back to Solomon and his words from 1st Kings, Chapter 8.
In today’s passage, we find Solomon ending his prayer of dedication to the newly constructed temple of God. Scripture tells us that “when Solomon had finished all (his) prayers and supplications to the Lord”, he then “rose from before the altar of the Lord, where he had been kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven”. And once on his feet, Solomon began to bless “the whole assembly of Israel in a loud voice”.
Before we get to Solomon’s word of blessing on his people, let’s pause and examine his posture as he prayed.
For note how Solomon came before the God of the universe…the omnipotent, almighty, powerful Maker of everything in heaven and earth. He came kneeling before the altar with his hands spread out toward heaven. At the altar because that was the place to worship and pay proper tribute. Kneeling to show God how humble he was before Him…bowed down in respect and homage to His Lord and King. And with hands spread out toward heaven…hands open to receive whatever God chose to send…hands open in a way that says, “Lord, I open myself to you and offer you all of me”.
Indeed, we can learn a lot about how to come before God in prayer…with an attitude of worship…in a posture of humility and reverence…and a willingness to give God all that we are. And it’s in that last sense…that sense of total surrender to our Master…that Solomon gave Israel these closing words as he addressed them after standing.
Look at these words:
“…your hearts must be fully committed to the Lord our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands…”
Hearts…fully committed.
That’s what God desires from His people. Hearts who are fully committed to Him.
Not part time. All of the time.
Not when it’s convenient. But rather 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
And why should we respond to God this way?
Because He never stops being fully committed to us.
Solomon’s words told Israel that the Lord had not failed in any of His promises He made to Israel.
He didn’t because he was fully committed to them.
Solomon wished that the Lord would be with them as he had been with their fathers…that he would never leave them nor forsake them. And God saw that the wish became reality, staying faithful to His people and His covenant made…both old and new. He did so because He was fully committed.
Solomon desired that the Lord would turn hearts to Himself so that all would walk in His ways and keep His commands, decrees and regulations. And the Lord has done this all through the ages right up to this very moment. He did, He does and He will always do it because He is fully committed.
Finally, Solomon hoped that his words, prayed for his people…God’s people…would be near to the Lord and that those words would lead Him to uphold His people so that they would know that he is God and that there was truly no other god like Him…THE God (capitol G) who was fully committed to His people.
Friends, are your hearts fully committed to the Lord? Have you dedicated yourself to Him like He has dedicated Himself to you?
My prayer is that today’s passage would lead us into a period of reflection…a heart and soul searching that would rid out anything that might be keeping our hearts from being fully committed to the Lord.
The good news is that there is nothing we can’t get rid of…because we have God with us…Emmanuel…who will never leave us nor forsake us…and who is always fully committed to us.
Thanks and praise be unto the Father…now and forever. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
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