Prayer expresses our admiration and need for God. Sincere prayer has a vital part in seeking truth. We remember…
- God’s positive answer to Solomon’s request for “an understanding mind to govern [and to] discern between good and evil” (1 Kings 3:9).
- Proverbs’ challenge: “If you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God” (Proverbs 2:3-5).
- Daniel’s earnest prayers for understanding (Daniel 10:12).
- Psalms 119 and its many appeals. “Let my cry come before You, O LORD; give me understanding according to Your word!” (Psalm 119:169 cf. 119:27, 34, 73, 125, 144).
True understanding is “according to [God’s] word.” Some use prayer as an excuse to bypass God’s will and to disguise disobedience (Isaiah 1:15; Luke 20:47). They pray, then take their own thoughts as God’s answer. One modern ‘prophet’ used James 1:5 to pray for wisdom, then received ‘revelations’ to begin a rival religion to oppose the Bible. His followers now tell unsuspecting people, “Pray for wisdom to know whether our prophet is right.” This is all part of the war against the soul (1 Peter 2:11). Therefore, align your prayers with Scripture’s teachings, as David did for his son Solomon.
May the LORD grant you discretion and understanding, that when He gives you charge over Israel you may keep the law of the LORD your God. then you will prosper if you are careful to observe the statutes and the rules that the LORD commanded Moses for Israel. (1 Chronicles 22:12-13)