Permission to Speak Freely

That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”

2 Chronicles 1:7

Young King Solomon, at the beginning of his reign, was given an invitation beyond all imagination. He was invited by God to ask Him for anything he wanted. Now, Solomon didn't ask for what you might expect. He didn't request wealth, honor, victory over his enemies, or even long life. Instead, he humbly asked God to give him the wisdom and knowledge he needed to lead God's people well. His request was not only humble but pleasing to God. God not only granted Solomon's request but also promised to give him exceeding wealth and honor like no king before or after him in the history of the world would enjoy. Talk about a windfall of blessings!

But isn't the modern believer blessed in this way too!? We too are invited to ask our Lord for whatever we want. In Matthew 7:7-11 Jesus invites us to:

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"

I think we often overlook how great a privilege that is. You can ask God for anything! Of course, our situation is different that Solomon's. His invitation to ask probably came with a stronger assurance that he would get whatever he asked for, but still as God's children we are not very far off at all from this level of certainty. As God's children, we can be sure that He will hear our requests and answer in accord with our best interests.

So, now that you understand the invitation, what are you going to ask for? Don't overlook how great a blessing it is for you to be able to take any request you want before your Creator. Make time to pray! But take James 4:2-3 to heart. "You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." Be sure not only to ask but to do so with right motives.