Daily Devotional – August 21-27
August 21 – Meditating on God’s Word
This devotional series offers less content but more opportunity for you to reflect, contemplate, and pray through the short Scriptures we offer. It is an opportunity to help us slow down and enjoy time in the presence of God. It is an exercise in listening with the intent of hearing from God through His Word and by His Spirit. Here is the passage for the week:
1 Kings 3:6-9, Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day. 7 “Now, 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.8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 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?”
Prayer: “Father, just as Solomon prayed, so to I give You thanks for Your great kindness that You have shown to my family. Thank you for parents who loved You and modeled the faith well for me. In all of my responsibilities, in the large scheme of things, I am only a child, and don’t know how to fully carry out the work You have given me. The need is great. The weight is heavy. So, I ask for a wise heart that listens and is obedient to Your word and will. Amen.”
August 22 – Meditating on God’s Word
1 Kings 3:6, Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.
Write out the Scripture. (As it is or in your own words.)
“Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.”
Observe what it is saying. (Answer the who, what, when, where, why, and how questions)
Solomon responded to God’s invitation in a dream to ask for whatever he wanted as he became king. He began by acknowledging God’s kindness to his father because David had a heart that sought after God. Solomon understands that his position as king is due to God’s grace.
Relate it to your life. (Connect how this Scripture speaks into your life today.)
All that I have and have been given is because of God’s generous grace and kind heart.
Do something. (Pray it. Live it. Act on it.)
“Father, thank You for Your overwhelming goodness that You have shown to me over and over in so many ways, especially, in the gift of Your Son Jesus. Amen.”
August 23 – Meditating on God’s Word
1 Kings 3:7, “Now, 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.
Write out the Scripture.
“Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and don’t know how to carry out my duties.”
Observe what it is saying.
Just as he said about his father, he speaks of himself as a servant. What a perfect understanding of his role as king. Instead of thinking of himself proudly as he has ascended to the highest position in the land, he humbly saw himself as a mere servant of God and as a small child who didn’t know how to do the job that had been given to him. He began so well.
Relate it to your life.
Whatever my position in life, I never excel past the fact I am a mere servant of God.
Do something.
“Father, I humbly confess I am Your servant. I am here to do Your work and fulfill Your plan and purposes. In the large scheme of things, I’m only a child in fulfilling my responsibilities. Amen.”
August 24 – Meditating on God’s Word
1 Kings 3:8, Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number.
Write out the Scripture.
“Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number.”
Observe what it is saying.
Yesterday, Solomon revealed he felt like a small child being put on a grownup’s throne. Today, he continues to reveal how small he feels as he speaks of the vastness of the people he has been appointed to lead. The task at hand is so much larger than he feels he can capably accomplish. It requires fully surrendering and trusting in God to lead Solomon as His servant.
Relate it to your life.
When the task is greater than me, it’s a great opportunity to discover God’s power at work.
Do something.
“Father, many things are greater than me. I put my full trust in You to handle them all. Amen.”
August 25 – Meditating on God’s Word
1 Kings 3:9, So give your servant a discerning heart…
Write out the Scripture.
“So give your servant a discerning heart…”
Observe what it is saying.
Solomon now states his request. He asks for a discerning heart. It also can be translated a listening or hearing heart. He is asking that God will help him listen to God, to His Word, and to His will. It’s a heart that actively listens and discerns what God would have Him be and do. In asking for this, he places Himself as a servant under the authority of God’s kingship.
Relate it to your life.
To have a listening heart is the most important request I can ask if I truly desire to be a faithful follower of Jesus.
Do something.
“Father, I ask for a listening heart. Help me to hear and respond in obedience to You as I read and reflect on Scripture, as I pray, and as I go about my day. Amen.”
August 26 – Meditating on God’s Word
1 Kings 3:9, “…to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
Write out the Scripture.
“…to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
Observe what it is saying.
Solomon knows that he cannot effectively lead this large group of people on his own. He comes humbly into this position seeking God’s favor and discernment so that he will lead them according to God’s righteous way. He reveals that the best leaders enter their roles with humility seeking the help of heaven to accomplish their earthly tasks.
Relate it to your life.
Godly leadership begins on our knees asking for the help of heaven.
Do something.
“Father, I humbly come before You asking for a discerning spirit so that I may serve and lead others well. I cannot do what you have called me to do without Your wisdom and power. Amen.”