Imagine the Lord waking you up in the middle of the night after a long hard day and saying; "Ask for whatever you want me to give you". What would you say? What would you ask him for?
With the financial difficulties some single moms face, would you ask to win the lottery? Or how about a very long vacation on a tropical island to finally rest and relax? Would you ask for a great house with a nanny, butler, cook, housekeeper gardener and pool included?
All of those things sound really great don't they? The question I want to ask you today is, "What do you think God would want you to say"? Remember, God looks at our hearts, not our outside. What is inside your heart today as you think about what you would ask for?
I would like to tell you what Solomon asked for in this very same situation. In 1Kings, chapter 3, God woke Solomon up in the middle of the night and asked him the very same question I asked you; "Ask for whatever you want me to give you". Let's look through scripture and see what his answer was.
In verses 7-9 of chapter 3, Solomon replies to God; "Now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people too. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?
All Solomon asked for was a discerning heart to know how to handle the situation he was in. How often have you told God that you feel like a little child and don't know how to carry out your duties as a single mom? If you are like me, it's most often during the day. The only thing I know to do is pray for wisdom in order to lead myself and my son, and to make right decisions.
What comfort there is in knowing that God will give us the very wisdom we need to carry out the job that God has for us to do. Asking God for wisdom allows him to do what He wants to do through us, not what we think he should do for us.
Let's move on in scripture to verses 10-12. "The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, "Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.
Because Solomon asked for wisdom and a discerning heart and not wealth, the Lord also gave him long life and riches. Now this does not promise that God will bless you with riches if you ask for wisdom. He does however give us everything that we need according to His kingdom. Matthew 6:33 says, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
When we set our sights on what God wants for us, he will satisfy our every need. Focusing on what we think we need to be happy and the riches of this world causes confusion. We never seem to be content with what we have.
When God blesses us with wisdom, he gives us a great gift. He gives us the ability to understand what is best for us. He also blesses you with the strength to carry out his will. Not only must we receive wisdom, but we must also act upon it. God calls us to be wise in all areas of our life. Applying this wisdom to every detail of your life demonstrates great discernment to lead your children and take care of your home.
If you did not answer the question that I asked you the way Solomon answered God, ask God to forgive you. Ask him to change your heart to want only what he wants for your life. Pray to receive the wisdom you need to carry out his plan for you as a single mom. Then, please the Lord through worship and thanksgiving and act on what you have received. www.hope4singlemoms.com
Lori Little, A Woman By Design ministry's founder, is the former Director of John C. Maxwell's THRiVE!, Becoming A Woman Of Influence. A major focus of Lori's ministry is the Hope and Help for the Single Mom initiative. Lori is very pleased to be a new contributor to Crosswalk and will be publishing articles regularly in the Parenting and Family sections of the site. Also watch for Lori's book Hope and Help for the Single Mom, by Waterbrook Press, in 2005.
For suggestions and gift ideas, Hope and Help for the Single Mom has several CD packages to select from that offer meaningful messages, helpful advice and loving encouragement for every single mom. To inquire about and order the CD packages, call 1-888-430-HOPE, or visit the website at: www.hope4singlemoms.com.