“Lord Give Me A Discerning Heart!”

“Lord Give Me A Discerning Heart!”
A hunter told his young son to ask anything of they his parents and they will give him. Since his father was a hunter and they ate “bush meat” everyday the boy said he wanted to be given only the hindleg of any animal which the mother prepared. His parents agreed. Things went on well until when his father killed a huge python. For more than a month food was prepared only with the meat of the python. The boy had to eat without meat for the one month plus.
Jesus assures us, “…my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name…” (Jn.16:23b). We must be in Christ before we can ask anything in his name. Anything short of this will be like the teenage boy who for one month had to eat without meat because the python has not hindleg.
We should be discerning to know the will of God for our lives and to know that what we ask and are not given are those things that were not intended for us; as it is said, “What does not come to you did not belong to you.”
God said to Solomon, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” Unlike the teenager above, Solomon had a discerning heart. Solomon told God, “…give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong…”
Solomon’s request pleased the Lord and he replied, “…I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for – both riches and honour …” (I Kgs 3:5-15).
James advises, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” It is in the same way that we should seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all other things will be added on to it.
Paul writes, “…to those whom God has called…Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God…” Jesus Christ “…has become for us wisdom from God – that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption…” (Cf. I Cor.1:18-31).
When Jesus Christ becomes our wisdom we would embrace trials with pure joy because it is a testing of our faith which develops perseverance. Perseverance makes us mature and complete, enabling us to know that not all animals have hindlegs. So when we ask from God we do not doubt because we know that his yes or no work to our favour (Jam.1:2-8).
Sunday prayer: Holy Spirit give me a discerning heart to cling to Christ Jesus, the power and wisdom of God. Amen!
Have a blessed Sunday! Peace be with you!