Prepare, Pray, and Please

Pray and prepare to see the power of God at work. Watch out for pride, as it is proven to lead you down the wrong path.

“David said, “My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the Lord should be of great magnificence…So David made extensive preparations before his death. “Now, my son, the Lord be with you, and may you have success and build the house of the Lord your God, as he said you would. May the Lord give you discretion and understanding…so that you may keep the law of the Lord your God. Then you will have success if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws…Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged. “I have taken great pains to provide for the temple of the Lord a hundred thousand talents of gold, a million talents of silver…David ordered all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon. Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the Lord your God. Begin to build…so that you may bring the ark” 1 Chronicles 22:5-19

As David draws near to death’s door, his sole and soul focus was no longer on himself. He thought about the legacy he could leave and how he could set his son up for success. Look at what David does to prepare the way for others to experience God’s presence. He saved, stored, and got ready to supply all that his son would need.

Think about that for a second. How different is that from our normal thinking? Most of our thoughts are about ourselves. We may think about our paycheck, our appetites, our pleasures, other people, or our daily purpose, but how often do we think about how we can prepare the way for other people to encounter and be filled with God’s presence? How could our sacrifice today lead to someone else’s success tomorrow?

David taught Solomon a valuable lesson. Guidance is better than gold. Discretion and understanding how to do God’s will are what matter. Living with expectation and boldness honors God. David said do not be afraid or discouraged. So often it is fear or worry that leads us to let go of God-sized dreams or keeps us from living boldly with the authority we have been given.

David did not teach his son a trade. He did not spend his time telling his son the X’s and O’s of being a king. He told him to devote his heart and soul to seeking God. That’s it. David knew that Solomon would not know what to do on his own or accomplish great things in his own strength. He needed to learn to trust God and do what He says.

Is that what we are doing? How much time do we spend getting kids to do homework or helping others with a task when what each of us really needs is more of God’s presence and greater discernment so that we are led by the Holy Spirit? Put yourself in David’s shoes. What would you do to best prepare his son to take over? What are you doing to set someone else up for success? We would do well to remember that our days are numbered.

“You have shown your people desperate times; you have given us wine that makes us stagger. But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner to be unfurled against the bow. Save us and help us with your right hand, that those you love may be delivered. Who will lead me to Edom? Give us aid against the enemy, for human help is worthless. With God we will gain the victory”Psalms 60:3-12

Do you ever wonder why you have to go through so many times of difficulty or doubt? David said that God has shown His people desperate times and made a cup that we can drink. God gives us different seasons that we might learn to discern. It is our choices that lead us either toward God or away from Him. Our choices can lead us to be drunk on wine or drunk on the Spirit. How carefully will you use the gift of discernment today?

Jesus refused to let go of the cup that God gave Him to drink. He did not choose the cup that made Him stagger; instead, He chose the cup of surrender, surrendering His will to God’s will. In doing God’s will, Jesus gave us the keys to victory in every battle we face, but we must follow His process if we want to gain the same outcome. He taught us humility and a heart that desires to see others blessed at His own expense.

David said those who fear the Lord will see that the banner has been raised. What does that mean to you? The fear of the Lord always changes our perspectives and challenges us to reconsider what our priorities are. How do you need to change the way you are thinking so the love of Christ can flow through you to accomplish God’s will?

“My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them…Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing…do not despise the Lord’s discipline, because the Lord disciplines those he loves…Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver…Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her…do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion…Have no fear of sudden disaster…for the Lord will be at your side…Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act…he blesses the home of the righteous…shows favor to the humble”Proverbs 3:1-34

You would do well to memorize this passage. Read it aloud, write it down, share it with your friends, and ponder the hidden gems and holy wisdom. Proverbs 3 is a sacred text, and it can lead you to the life of freedom as you anoint Jesus Lord of your life and follow the ways of wisdom.

What stands out to you? Which of these verses speaks to you? Why? Is it possible the Spirit is speaking to you? Which of these comes naturally? Where does God want to guide you? How could applying these truths help you turn from wrong thinking and toward your loving Savior? Consider this passage in light of what David did in Chronicles. David set his son up for success, and in turn, Proverbs 3 has impacted billions of people, and it can impact you today.

God has a specific message for you. Not someone else. Not your neighbor or your friend. Not the other person you wish would be more loving. For you. We are all learning and growing as disciples of Jesus Christ. What does God want to teach you? Is it to let love never leave you? Is it to teach you to trust Him and not your own way of thinking? Is it to tithe or take a step of faith? Is it to submit and surrender instead of being stubborn? Is it to do the good that is within your power to do? What is it for you?

“When Jeremiah had finished telling the people all the words of the Lord their God—everything the Lord had sent him to tell them— Azariah son of Hoshaiah and Johanan son of Kareah and all the arrogant men said to Jeremiah, “You are lying! The Lord our God has not sent you to say, ‘You must not go to Egypt to settle there.’ So Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers and all the people disobeyed the Lord’s command to stay in the land of Judah. Instead, Johanan…led away all the remnant of Judah who had come back to live in the land of Judah from all the nations where they had been scattered.” Jeremiah 43:1-5

Do you ever slap your forehead when reading Scripture and wonder why people could be so foolish? The people asked Jeremiah to pray, God answered their prayer and gave advice on how to be faithful, then the people did not listen. Why ask if they were unwilling to listen and obey?

Odds are they did not get the answer they wanted. The truth is, you can find someone to tell you what you want to hear. You can grumble and complain and find someone else who will go along with your grousing. But do not fool yourself into thinking that God is okay with what you are doing when you play games. Have you been playing any games with God? Is there anywhere you have leaned on your own understanding or done what you wanted instead of fully submitting and surrendering to His will?

The text says it was the arrogant who would not listen. Their pride caused more pain for people than could ever be quantified. Pride says my way, not God’s way. My preferences or approach instead of what I know Jesus did. Pride labels and does not love. Pride refuses to listen or obey. Pride scoffs at correction and ignores fire alarms. You cannot be full of pride and full of God’s presence at the same time. For most of us, the question is not if we are prideful, but where we have allowed our pride or preferences to keep us from being God’s faithful people.

“King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church…When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each…Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared…Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists. Peter followed him out of the prison…They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him. Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door…Peter is at the door!” “You’re out of your mind,” they told her…Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished…Herod, wearing his royal robes…delivered a public address to the people. They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down…and died.” Acts 12:1-23

Wisdom tells us to let love and faithfulness never leave us. Wisdom tells us to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding. Wisdom tells us to surrender our fears, worries, and anxieties to the cross of Christ. Think about how Proverbs 3 relates to what the people were experiencing as they pursued sharing the good news in this passage.

They were not met with open arms or celebrated for their sacrifices. If anything, it was the opposite. Peter was imprisoned, and the people were persecuted. What would have been the logical response to that environment? Would it not have been to flee the area or find another calling? When you apply your own understanding to this passage, what would you have done in that situation? What are you doing when you experience pressure or live in an anti-Christian environment?

Trust in the Lord. Lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways submit to Him and do the good you can do. The disciples practiced discernment. When all hell was breaking loose and the world was insane around them, they chose to do the good that was within their power.

They chose to pray. Jesus said if you believe, you can move mountains with prayer. Do we believe this? Do we believe that our prayers could help lead other people to freedom like we saw with Peter? Is prayer a priority in our lives? Who could you pray for today? How could your prayer be like David and prepare the way for others to experience God’s presence?

The connections are deep and have the power to help us do God’s will. Will we learn to live like the early disciples did? Will we prepare like David? Can we sing like Psalm 60 that God saves? Will we apply the wisdom of Proverbs 3 and learn from the foolishness of the prideful people in Jeremiah? Will we pray when we feel powerless?

Solomon learned from his dad to fix his eyes on the God who saves and delivers because he found that God is not far but is near. He is powerful and frees prisoners. Stop leaning on your own understanding and take the next step of faith. Pray when you cannot see the answer. Obey when His way does not make sense. Give before you have received both paychecks. Sacrifice today so someone else can experience His presence tomorrow. Follow Jesus in living out the surrendered life that trusts God for everything.

The same God who told David to set up a blessing for Solomon is the same God who warned His people and the same God who broke Peter’s chains. Trust Him with all your heart, do what David said to Solomon, and devote your heart and soul to seeking Him. Then do the good that is within your power because your sacrifice will lead someone else to experience the resurrection power of Jesus Christ.