What Are You Praying For? “Create in Me a Pure Heart, O Lord!”–Psalm 51:10
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” –Ps. 51:10.
When you pray, what are you praying for? King Solomon, famously known for a single prayer, did not pray for the things of this world. Instead, when given a rare opportunity to ask God for anything he desired, Solomon asked for one thing. Wisdom. He wanted the wisdom of God in order to better govern the Lord’s people. And this humble and selfless prayer opened the floodgates of Heaven for all eternity. A life and legacy Solomon could only dream of…
(Excerpt from 1 Kings 3:10-13)
“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 [you] asked for the death of your enemies but [rather] 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. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings.”
Similar to King Solomon, the author of Psalm 51 prayed with humility and selflessness. He did not desire riches, power, or earthly glory. The psalmist prayed instead for virtues of Heaven. For God to create a pure heart in him. A steadfast spirit to successfully finish his pilgrimage of faith.
We can learn so much about how to pray and what to pray for from our predecessors. While there is no perfect remedy of course — everyone’s needs and wants are different — one thing is certain: God honors humble prayer. As you reflect on the words of the psalmist and of King Solomon today, think about what you have been praying for. Consider ways you could better align your prayer life with God’s will. As you humbly and selflessly open your heart to Him, prepare for Him to answer in a way you couldn’t have imagined.
“But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” –Matthew 6:33.
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