THE DESIRE TO OBEY

May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in obedience to him and keep the commands, decrees and laws he gave our ancestors. And may these words of mine, which I have prayed before the Lord, be near to the Lord our God day and night, that he may uphold the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel according to each day’s need.

1 Kings 8:58 - 59

After spending seven years constructing the Temple, King Solomon led the Israelites in dedicating this magnificent structure to the Lord. First, Solomon praised the Lord for keeping his promises, for establishing the Israelites in the land, and for giving them the opportunity to build God’s Temple. God had kept all the promises he had made to Solomon’s father, King David. How should the Israelites respond to their God? King Solomon prayed that the Israelites would want to obey the Lord’s commands. Why? So the name of God would be exalted: “so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the lord is God and that there is no other” (8:60)

Is your prayer that your life will bring glory to God? Reflect on your motives for obeying God, then pray with a heart like Solomon’s.

PRAYER

Dear Lord, give me the desire to do your will in everything …