Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Evangelical
What Are You Going to Ask God For This New Year?

What Are You Going to Ask God For This New Year?

Last updated on: June 12, 2018 at 11:48 pm by Jim Erwin

What Are You Going to Ask God For This New Year? 2018-06-12T23:48:52-05:00 Jim Erwin

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

What Are You Going to Ask God For This New Year?

What Are You Going to Ask God For This New Year? is a simple thought reflection from 1 Kings 3:5-14.

December 31, 2015 Year C

1 Kings 3:5-14

What are you going to ask God for this new year?

God appeared to Solomon in a dream (1 Kings 3:5). Solomon had loved God, but he was also disobedient. He had sacrificed animals to other gods on the “high places.” Despite this disobedience, God approaches Solomon. God asks Solomon: “What should I give you?” (1 Kings 3:6)

God is asking the same question out of you and me: “What should I give you?” Despite our disobedience, God still comes to us because He knows our heart. We may still sin, but still love God. So God tests that love.

Solomon recognizes that this is a second chance, a time of grace, a place of forgiveness. He knows that God allowed Solomon to stay on the throne, even though he has sinned. The throne was rightly David‘s. God kept a promise to David and God is extending that promise to Solomon (1 Kings 3:6). Solomon doesn’t take advantage of the promise to continue in sin. He takes this opportunity and replies to God about God’s faithfulness. Solomon knows full well that God could take Solomon off of the throne (1 Kings 3:6-7). Solomon recognizes that his privileged status exists only because of God’s choosing (1 Kings 3:8). Solomon recognizes the enormous responsibility God has placed on Solomon. He realizes that he needs God’s help. So Solomon asks for wisdom (1 Kings 3:9). This request pleases God (1 Kings 3:10). Why? Because God sees that Solomon wants to depend upon God for help. Because Solomon seeks out God, God gives Solomon more than what Solomon asks (1 Kings 3:11-13). God grants Solomon the wisdom, but adds to it riches and honor (1 Kings 3:13).

God does that. He gives more than what we ask. Some of what He gives is unconditional. In this case for Solomon, it was riches and honor. The riches and honor would last his lifetime – so that other people may see that God established Solomon’s reign. But that does not mean that God unconditionally gives everyone wisdom and honor. God does not promise health, wisdom, and wealth. He promises us His unconditional love, but not unconditional earthly wealth. Some things that God gives us are conditioned on our obedience.

In Solomon’s case, his health was conditional. God would only give Solomon a long life if Solomon obeyed God’s commands (1 Kings 3:14).

Do you want to see God do wonders in your life? Then you have to ask. God will do more than you ask, but it has to come from the heart – with a desire to obey God.

God is asking you today: “What should I give you?” How are you going to respond for this next year?

Prayer: God, thank You for this past year. Thank You for your faithfulness. Please give me more of You this next year. So me more of Your wisdom. Help me be a better husband, father, and pastor to others and a better child to You.

Simple Thoughts

simple thoughts

Previous Post

December 30, 2015

Be Ready

Next Post

January 1, 2016 Jesus and the Inverted Bell Curve Attitude

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category 1 Chronicles 1 Corinthians 1 John 1 Kings 1 Peter 1 Samuel 1 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Chronicles 2 Corinthians 2 John 2 Kings 2 Peter 2 Samuel 2 Thessalonians 2 Timothy 3 John Acts Advent Amos Book Review Colossians Comics Culture Watch Daniel Deuteronomy Ecclesiastes Ephesians Esther Exodus Ezekiel Ezra Galatians Genesis Guest Post Habakkuk Haggai Hebrews Hosea Humor Inspiritational Isaiah James Jeremiah Job Joel John Jonah Joshua Jude Judges Lamentations Lectionary Lent Leviticus Link Love Luke Malachi Mark Matthew Micah Movie Review Nahum Nehemiah Numbers Philippians Political Watch Prophecy Watch Proverbs Psalm Revelation Reviews Romans Ruth Science Watch Sermon Series Sermons Simple Thoughts Song of Solomon Titus Top Ten Uncategorized Video Review Zechariah Zephaniah

Select a Month May 2026 October 2025 September 2025 June 2025 February 2025 January 2025 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 July 2024 June 2024 April 2024 March 2024 January 2024 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 June 2023 May 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 January 2022 June 2021 January 2021 October 2020 July 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2009 June 2008 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 October 2006 September 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 September 2005

Follow Us!

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does Romans say about the mind governed by the flesh versus the mind governed by the Spirit?

Select your answer to see how you score.

The flesh seeks itself, but the Spirit seeks God The flesh is weak, but the Spirit is strong The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace The flesh leads to sin, but the Spirit leads to righteousness

Related posts from Jim Erwin

The Challenge of Pastoral Burnout

Could ChatGPT Start a New Religion?

Benefits of Reading the Bible In a Year

Ideas for More Engaging Sermons

TRENDING AT PATHEOS Evangelical

Methodist Central Hall and Westminster Abbey

Situated on the same square is Methodist Central Hall and Westminster Abbey. ...

57th Dove Awards Honor Dolly Parton, Crown New...

On gospel music’s biggest night, the 57th annual GMA Dove Awards honored...

The First Eucharistic Controversy: Christ’s Real Presence

For Catholics, the Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian...

What a Stop Sign Can Teach Us About...

How to Make a Decision When You Can't Hear God Main point:...

Archdiocese Hosts Military Marriage Retreat in Germany

RASTATT, Germany — The transient military lifestyle, with its frequent deployments and...

Minted in God's Image

Nearly every morning, I make the drive to Detroit with my high-school-age...

view all Evangelical blogs

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Copyright 2008-2026, Patheos. All rights reserved.

Subscription Support Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In

Follow Patheos