What shall I give you?
by Brigitte Straub
**Are you at the end of your rope? http://thelife.com/interactive/chat.html
If God were to come to you in a dream and ask this question: “What shall I give you”? What would your response be?
This very thing occurred to Solomon one evening. Solomon loved the Lord, as did his Father David. One night after Solomon went to bed God came to him and asked this very question.
I am intrigued by Solomon’s response. Before even answering God’s question to him, Solomon began exalting God and praising Him for showing mercy and great kindness to his father David.
Solomon then proceeded in complete humility, by telling God that he was young and in need of God’s help to do what he knew God was calling him to do. He sought no outward material things or anything of this world but instead sought God’s wisdom for the task at hand, that of ruling as King.
His prayer was so aligned with God that not only did God do according to his request, but also gave him everything he did not ask for.
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I Kings 3:13 says “I have also given you what you have not asked”.
Solomon could have asked for long life, riches and the life of his enemies, but because he didn’t, God gave him both “riches and honor”.
There is, however, a very important aspect of who Solomon was that I believe hinges on the very reason why God came to him in the first place and asked him this question.
1 Kings 3:3 says that “Solomon loved the Lord”.
When we love God, our responses, beliefs and mindsets begin to change. Instead of focusing on what the world has to offer us we begin thinking and dreaming with God and with Kingdom perspective. We want God’s ways and God’s will to be done.
God is constantly making Himself available to His people, eagerly desiring to become one with us. He longs for us to get into such a place of intimacy with Him that His thoughts become our thoughts and His ways become our ways.
Do we love God and His ways so much that He could come to encounter us the way He did Solomon? If so, then this is the question He is asking you: “What shall I give you?”
~God, I love You. I will love You all the days of my life, with all my heart, my soul, my strength and my mind. I want to walk in Your ways all the days of my life. I thank you that I am a new creation in You and now can have the mind of Christ. Continue to transform me into Your very likeness so I may do all that You have called me to do. Amen.
Questions: How would you answer God if He asked you, “What shall I give you?” What could you dream about with God today from Kingdom perspective?
About the Author: http://talk.thelife.com/experience/devotionalforwomen/authors/brigitte-straub/
5 Responses to “What shall I give you?”
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if God asked me ”What shall I give you Kanj, I would say, ”Lord, it is not what I want, it is what more can I give to You through all that You have blessed me with”.
Wow,there’s alot to think about! I’ve never answered anyones question before and here i feel there probably is not a definate answer but thought i’d give you another personal opinion to think over! This is something thats been on my mind for a while because i’m married to a minister and so we are called to a church and sometimes it doesn’t meet my needs as a mum and wife desperate for spiritual support in small groups etc I see alot of people coming into church from other churches because it “feels more of a community” or ” the worship is where they are at” or “there’s more for the children to do” etc. I know God has placed us as communities within communities so first i think it great to be in your “local” church to be a witness and a help to your community. Secondly if you are in a church where there are no groups to meet you where you are at then pray about it and perhaps start one up? I know its difficult to say that not knowing your situation! Theres nothing wrong with going to both churches for a while and seeking Gods will for you and your family, but eventually i feel that your spiritual home needs to be in one place,where you feel God has called you to. I do have friends who have prayed long and hard about whether to stay at their local church and eventually have been attending one further away and feel thats the right decision for them, so every situation is different! I hope i’ve helped in some way and want you to know that i will pray for you and some decisions you have to make over the coming months. God bless!
hehe i said ‘everything!’ (that I would need). just kidding, but I suppose I would ask for peace? b/c this world is so full of things, I think we need His peace.
Just a question/ survey for sisters out there. I may not have spoken with some of you before on this blog, but I have with some sisters before… and some of them know my situation. It’s a long story, and while God knows, I just wanted to generally throw a question out there, as I’ve been struggling a lot with this (and praying about it!) I know ultimately God will answer me, but it has been tough! Just wanted to see what others thought as well, from a ‘Christian’ perspective. I’m also in a place where I do not have many to ask this to… So I appreciate your kind responses/ thoughts. I’ve been healing a lot, and basically am struggling with going to the right church for me. It is a long story, but I am seeking a church that I can commit to, grow in, heal in, and serve in, but I also do need community. Currently, I’m attending a smaller church where there is some sense of community, but truthfully sometimes I struggle with feeling a bit more like it is so tight-knit sometimes (sometimes wondering how to balance space also), and sometimes feel like I do not always get as much out of the Sunday services.. Sometimes I struggle with feeling like I have to ‘please man’ here (although I know that is not the answer, but I am being honest), whereas there is another church, however it is a mega-church (huge!). The thing here is that sometimes I feel it is so big, and also I checked, there are not as many groups that would provide such a tight-knit community. However, I sometimes get really blessed by the message. So I feel like there are almost two opposite ‘extremes’ here, and I am wondering what God wants me to do. I’m not asking you to ‘tell’ me what to do of course, that’s not my intention, but more so since I am lacking community in terms of sharing stuff like this with, I guess I just wanted to hear sisters’ opinions from a ‘Christian perspective’ out there. I have struggled with these decisions, as some think it is best to stay in a place where there is community, however others say that is not the right reason to go to church (I know), and that you should go for the message. What do you guys think? (Please be gentle! :) I have been going thru stuff, and God knows, but I am praying about it and waiting on Him to help me in the meantime). I appreciate your prayers. God bless! Thanks for your kind words.
First I would ask for the Lord to make Himself very real to my children an grandchildren, so that they would serve Him forever. Secondly, I would ask for healing for my body for the remainder of my life so that I could better serve Him and others.
first i would ask for everyone i know to be saved then for health for all people who suffer so
sharon