“Ask for Wisdom First”
By Dianne Prince
“So give your servant [Solomon] a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong.” (1 Kings 3:9, NIV)
Our scripture this morning reminds us of Solomon’s prayer: “So give your servant [Solomon] a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong.”
Studies estimate that the average adult makes about 35,000 decisions each day. From when we rise in the morning to what we eat for breakfast, or whether to stop for gas on the way to work or on the way home—our lives are filled with choices. Some are automatic and require little thought, while others weigh heavily on us, beyond what we can manage on our own. That is why we need the wisdom of God to guide us through each day.
In today’s passage, God appeared to Solomon in a dream and told him He would grant whatever he asked for. Solomon did not ask for long life, wealth, or the defeat of his enemies. Instead, he asked for wisdom to lead God’s people. God was pleased that Solomon valued wisdom over riches and power. As a result, God not only gave him wisdom but also blessed him abundantly with wealth and honor.
This passage reminds us that it is vital to pray for the right things. God is pleased when we place our spiritual needs above our material desires. James 4:3 reminds us, “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” Many prayers go unanswered because they focus on temporary, self-serving desires. But when we pray for spiritual growth, discernment, and alignment with God’s will, He provides all we need—and often more than we could imagine.
Here is your encouragement for today: do not become anxious over a decision that feels too heavy to bear, nor distracted by challenges that seem too great. Instead, pray specifically for God’s wisdom to know what to do. While you wait for His direction, stay close to Him through prayer and His Word. Wisdom grows through time spent with God. As you seek His guidance, He will not only give you wisdom but will also surprise you with blessings beyond what you asked or thought possible.
Trust that when you ask for wisdom, God will respond—because He delights in guiding those who seek Him first.
