Prayer of Solomon

An international bestseller with over five million copies in print, 'The Power of Positive Thinking' by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale has changed the way people look at life. Dr. Peale says this bestseller, 'was written with the sole objective of helping the reader achieve a happy, satisfying, and worthwhile life.' It is good to go through life with 'the cup being a half-full attitude.' But when people extend this attitude to the Bible and quote only the promises, it becomes a problem! Every month on the first day, I receive Bible-promises from many friends. Most of them contain encouraging words saying God will heal us, God will prosper us, God will deliver us, and God will meet our every need. While it is entirely accurate, it is perilous to separate the promises from the conditions of obedience that is required actually to inherit those promises!

We read about Solomon's prayer of dedication in 1 Kings 8: 22-66. God appeared to Solomon a second time and answered Solomon's prayer. The Lord said (1 Kings 9:1-9) that His eyes and heart will be upon the consecrated Temple perpetually, but Solomon's kingdom will be established only if he and his sons keep God's commandments and statutes. If his descendants did not obey the Lord, the Lord said that He would cut off Israel from the promised land! We all know from history how the Temple was destroyed and how the Jews were scattered in all directions from the land that was given to them. The Bible says in 2 Cor 1:20, "For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us." But God wants each one of us to obey His commandments to enjoy and retain His blessings. The Bible says in 1 Cor 7:19, "Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters."

My friend, there is no substitute for obedience to the Word. We cannot use the power of positive thinking to inherit God’s promises. Let us take time during this period of lock-down to look within and confess our sins for the Bible says in 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Be encouraged, we have a promise-keeping God.

Trust and obey, for there's no other way

To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

John H. Sammis

Categories: Weekly DevotionalsAuthor: Hephzibah StephenDate: 31st March 2020 Share: newsletterDisplay date: 1st April 2020

---