As we continue in this JOURNALING series, here’s something fresh from my journal this past week…
‘WHAT WOULD YOU ASK FOR?’
Some context might be helpful here…
I was reading through 2 Chronicles, specifically, the section in which the LORD appears to Solomon in a dream…
“God appeared to Solomon and said, ‘What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!’” 2 Chronicles 1:7 (NLT)
Can you imagine that? Not only the question… ‘What do you want’ but the promise attached to the question… ‘I will give it to you.’
WOW!
As soon as I read that one verse my heart and mind started traveling down a road of wondering what I might ask for.
Solomon asked for WISDOM… a great request for a newly appointed king who was entrusted with the MASSIVE responsibility of not only leading the people of God but building the Temple… God’s dwelling place.
So, asking for WISDOM seems, well, like a really wise request. God not only granted Solomon the wisdom he asked for, but the LORD also gave Solomon what he did not ask for… wealth, riches, and fame.
As I sat with the question I wrote in my journal (WHAT WOULD YOU ASK FOR), I continued to read on in Chronicles to see what became of the one who asked for ‘WISDOM.’
Sadly, really tragically, Solomon stopped walking with God because his heart ultimately became polluted with ‘other loves.’ He gave his heart to many false gods, and rather than honoring the LORD with loving one wife, he married MANY wives.
Solomon had wisdom from God, but he did not remain faithful… and to be super-honest with you, that frightened me. Namely, Solomon is the guy who started well but failed to finish well. I don’t want to be that guy and I’m guessing you don’t either.
Before I share with you what I’m asking for, let me ask ask you…
‘WHAT WOULD YOU ASK FOR?’
Would you ask for wisdom?
Would you ask for wealth, riches, and fame?
Would you ask for healing?
Would you ask for position, power, and influence?
Seriously, I’d love to know what you’d ask for… send me a note at and let me know.
For me, here’s what I’d ask for… and yes, I did write it in my journal like this:
FAITHFULNESS TO THE END…
JESUS. MARRIAGE. PARENTING. PASTORING.
As I thought about the question.
As I considered what became of Solomon.
I just want to be faithful.
Faithful to follow Jesus.
Faithful to love my wife.
Faithful to serve my kids.
Faithful to the role that God has entrusted to me.
I’m 52. I have no idea how much longer the LORD will allow me to walk with Him this side of eternity, but whether that’s 10 more years or 40 more years, I just want to be faithful to walk well with my King.
So, there you go… that’s one of the things I wrote in my journal this past week. I’d invite you to take a moment to ‘journal’ out what you’d ask for. And whatever your ask would be, then take a moment to actually ASK the LORD for that. God invites us to pray (to ask) because He is a PRAYER ANSWERING GOD.
