Wisdom for the Asking

The God whom we serve is no respecter of persons. He who gave to Solomon the spirit of wise discernment is willing to impart the same blessing to His children today…. When a burden bearer desires wisdom more than he desires wealth, power, or fame, he will not be disappointed. Such a one will learn from the Great Teacher not only what to do, but how to do it in a way that will meet with the divine approval.

So long as he remains consecrated, the man whom God has endowed with discernment and ability will not manifest an eagerness for high position, neither will he seek to rule or control. Of necessity men must bear responsibilities; but instead of striving for the supremacy, he who is a true leader will pray for an understanding heart, to discern between good and evil.

The path of men who are placed as leaders is not an easy one. But they are to see in every difficulty a call to prayer. Never are they to fail of consulting the great Source of all wisdom. Strengthened and enlightened by the Master Worker, they will be enabled to stand firm against unholy influences and to discern right from wrong, good from evil. They will approve that which God approves, and will strive earnestly against the introduction of wrong principles into His cause. The wisdom that Solomon desired above riches, honor, or long life, God gave him. His petition for a quick mind, a large heart, and a tender spirit was granted.8Prophets and Kings, 31.

It would be well for us carefully to study Solomon’s prayer, and to consider every point on which depended his receiving the rich blessings that the Lord was ready to give him.9The S.D.A. Bible Commentary 2:1026.

God commended Solomon’s prayer. And He will today hear and commend the prayers of those who in faith and humility cry to Him for aid. He will certainly answer the fervent prayer for a preparation for service. In answer He will say, Here I am. What wilt thou that I shall do for thee? … He who led Solomon’s mind as he made this prayer will today teach His servants how to pray for what they need.
Conflict and Courage p. 190
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Prayer Requests
——Please pray right now! Brandon’s fever is so high, the nurse is paging the doctor and she asked me if I wanted to exactly how high it is. I said no. But please pray! Amanda
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Dear Friends,

One evening after we had gotten home from vacation some years ago, I was spending some time preparing a computer photo album of vacation pictures to share with a few friends and family. As I was putting a little explanation about each photo, something strange began to take place. Instead of the English alphabet, Greek letters appeared as I would type. I looked for a way to change the font, but there was none. I tried closing the program and reopening it. That did not help. I was puzzled.

Later, when I checked my email on Outlook Express, things got even worse. Strange computer symbols appeared. I closed the program and waited for Ron to get home. When I showed him what was happening, he knew that somehow we had picked up a computer virus. It was his turn to be puzzled. We have two anti-virus programs that continually monitor everything. Why hadn’t they picked up this one? He ran the first one. It scanned for a few minutes and then became disabled. The second program did the same. Whatever virus we had, had rendered useless those anti-virus programs which normally caught any viruses that tried to infect our machine. He disconnected our cable modem so it could not email itself to anyone and instructed me to stay off from the computer until he had had time to talk to a couple of people he knew who were very knowledgeable in such things.

Soon he found that we had somehow picked up a certain virus and was advised to buy a particular program that would immediately repair our problem. He did. It took most of the evening for the software to do its job, but by 8:00 PM our computer was virus free.

How many times we become infected with the virus of sin. At first we do not realize anything is going wrong inside of us, until suddenly, it takes over. Now it is completely in control and no matter how much we struggle against the sin, we are without success. Our condition is as Isaiah described, “the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it, but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.” Isa 1:5,6 Others cannot help us to get rid of that virus of sin any more than those two anti-virus programs who failed us. We hate the sin: we hate ourselves for allowing the infection process to begin in the first place. With Paul, we exclaim, “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Rom 7:24

Praise God! There is Someone Who can rid us of the virus of sin. Someone Who is standing there waiting for us to ask for the help He Alone is able to give. He assures us, “Fear thou not, for I am with thee: be not dismayed, for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee, yea, I will help thee, yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Isa 41:10 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matt 11:28-30 “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich, and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear, and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” Rev 3:18-21 “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Jer 29:13 Here is the secret of becoming virus free. We must earnestly desire to be freed from the virus of sin. We must allow Jesus to have full access to our entire being. We must never hold onto even a small portion of the sin-virus that seems to give us pleasure. If we do, we will become re-infected and infect others as well.

May we pray to our Only Helper as did David, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” Ps 51:10 May we allow our Loving Redeemer full control of every aspect of our life. May we “be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless” is my prayer. 2 Peter 3:14
Rose