From: June 8, 2026
“At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, ‘Ask what I shall give you.'” (1 Kings 3:5 ESV).
The author of Kings recorded that the Lord appeared to Solomon at Gibeon after he had offered a thousand burnt offerings on the bronze altar at the great high place. Solomon’s sacrifice was acceptable because the Tabernacle remained at Gibeon, even though the ark was in Jerusalem. His worship expressed his genuine love for God. This unusual period in Israel’s history would eventually end when Solomon built the Temple and reunited the ark with the furnishings of the Tabernacle. During this encounter, God invited Solomon, “Ask what I shall give you.” This was not because God lacked knowledge of Solomon’s heart. Rather, it was an opportunity for Solomon to express his priorities. Instead of asking for wealth, power, or long life, Solomon requested wisdom to govern God’s people. His request demonstrated humility, dependence on God, and concern for others. The Lord was pleased with Solomon’s answer because it reflected a heart aligned with God’s purposes.
We face decisions every day that require more than human understanding. Like Solomon, we need wisdom from above. James encouraged believers, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God” (James 1:5). God delights in giving wisdom to those who ask in faith. Too often, we ask for comfort, success, or personal advantage when our greater need is wisdom to know and do God’s will. As we seek the Lord in prayer and His Word, He shapes our desires and teaches us to value what matters most. Ultimately, Christ is the wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:24). Therefore, asking God for wisdom is more than seeking better judgment. It is seeking to know Christ more deeply and follow Him more faithfully. As we grow in our relationship with Him, we learn to think, choose, and live according to God’s wisdom. Therefore, let us make it our daily habit of asking God for the wisdom and mind of Christ.
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for inviting us to come boldly before You with our needs. Forgive us for relying on our own understanding. Give us wisdom to make decisions that honor You and serve others well. Help us ask in faith, trusting Your generous provision. Teach us to treasure Christ, who is the wisdom of God, and to follow Him faithfully each day. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: June 8, 2025
“A worker’s appetite works for him; his mouth urges him on.” (Proverbs 16:26 ESV).
A wise observation by King Solomon: Hunger motivates work. In other words, hunger can act as an incentive for one to labor for himself. Self-employment is hard, but often the most rewarding, for both the stomach and for one’s self-respect. Of course, the opposite must also be true: Full stomachs inspire lethargy. Free food ultimately enslaves. If the recipient doesn’t have to work for it, their motivation for work is removed. Forgetting this wisdom is detrimental to both the individual and the community.
Yet, there is a hunger and a thirst that physical food and drink cannot satisfy. It is the hunger and thirst of the soul that can only be satisfied by the Lord Himself. This hunger is also a blessing, for it is the prerequisite for being filled. As Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matt. 5:6).
The one who is self-satisfied without God, will not seek Him. But the one who hungers and thirsts to be right with God, will ultimately be found by Him. For that is why Christ Jesus came. He came as the Bread of Life and the Living Water to satisfy the hungry souls of sinful humanity.
So spiritual hunger is a blessing too. What are you hungry for today?
PRAYER: Dear Father, we are hungry for more of You today. Yesterday’s grace was sufficient for that day, but today we need new grace, new daily bread, from Your heavenly table. Today, we draw from Your bottomless well of Living Water and drink deeply until we are filled. Our hunger and thirst for You is a blessing. It moves us today to desire more of You. Fill us afresh and send us out to join You in Your work according to Your power. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: June 8, 2024
“And people of all nations came to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and from all the kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom” (1 Kings 4:34 ESV).
The God-given wisdom of Solomon attracted people from everywhere to come to Jerusalem to hear him. He was considered the wisest man on earth. Solomon began his reign well, but ended it poorly. For ultimately he succumbed to a lust for riches, sex, and power.
Yet, in his early years, he was a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ, who is “the power and the wisdom of God” (1 Cor.1:24). We catch a glimpse of God’s purpose to draw people from every nation in the early days of Solomon’s reign. But the fulfillment is in Christ. One day, all the nations will recognize Him as King of kings and Lord of lords, as the very wisdom of God displayed. As Jesus said of his ministry, “Behold, something greater than Solomon is here” (Matt. 12:42).
Do you want to hear and have access to the wisdom of Solomon? Look to Jesus. For those who have believed in Jesus have the “mind of Christ” (1 Cor. 2:16).
PRAYER: Dear Father, we want to live by the wisdom that comes from You. Help us to walk in Your wisdom. We appropriate the mind of Christ, which is ours by faith in Your Son. Give us wisdom for this day. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: June 8, 2023
“It is good for workers to have an appetite; an empty stomach drives them on” (Proverbs 16:26 NLT).
A wise observation by King Solomon: Hunger motivates work. In other words, hunger can act as an incentive for one to labor for himself. Self-employment is hard, but often the most rewarding, for both the stomach and for one’s self-respect. Of course, the opposite must also be true: Full stomachs inspire lethargy. Free food ultimately enslaves. If the recipient doesn’t have to work for it, their motivation for work is removed. Forgetting this wisdom is detrimental to both the individual and the community.
Yet, there is a hunger and a thirst that physical food and drink cannot satisfy. It is the hunger and thirst of the soul that can only be satisfied by the Lord Himself. This hunger is also a blessing, for it is the prerequisite for being filled. As Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matt. 5:6).
The one who is self-satisfied without God, will not seek Him. But the one who hungers and thirsts to be right with God, will ultimately be found by Him. For that is why Christ Jesus came. He came as the Bread of Life and the Living Water to satisfy the hungry souls of sinful humanity.
So spiritual hunger is a blessing too. What are you hungry for today?
PRAYER: Dear Father, we are hungry for more of You today. Yesterday’s grace was sufficient for that day, but today we need new grace, new daily bread, from Your heavenly table. Today, we draw from Your bottomless well of Living Water and drink deeply until we are filled. Our hunger and thirst for You is a blessing. It moves us today to desire more of You. Fill us afresh and send us out to join You in Your work according to Your power. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: June 8, 2017
It didn’t take long for the early church to experience the complaints of its members. The apostles had apparently started a food distribution ministry to the widows, but the church had grown so rapidly that the size of the task had become overwhelming. Plus, the Greek background believers complained that the Jewish background believers were neglecting their widows. What began as a complaint about unfair food distribution had become an accusation against the apostles of racism.
Depending on how the apostles responded, this problem could have either split the early church or severely slowed it down. If they had turned a deaf ear to the complaint and done nothing to address it, the disunity probably would have split the church. But if they had focused the work of the apostles on working at the tables to distribute food fairly, then they would have neglected their true calling, namely, the ministry of the Word and prayer, which would have severely slowed the growth of the church.
However, the apostles responded wisely, gathering the people together, they asked for seven men to be appointed as “deacons” (Greek: diakonos – “servant”). One shouldn’t miss the fact that all seven had Greek names. They were to administer the widow ministry and address the disunity. In this way, they wisely delegated this ministry, so that they didn’t neglect their own ministry calling.
The first-century church offers a wise paradigm for ministry in the 21st-century church. It is wise to set apart certain ministers to focus on caring for the physical needs of the flock. But it is equally wise to set apart pastors who are to focus on preaching and teaching the Word and praying for the flock. Both are needed in the church today.
From: June 8, 2016
A wise observation by King Solomon: Hunger motivates work. In other words, an empty stomach can actually “work for” the worker to encourage greater effort. The opposite must also be true: Free food inspires lethargy. Forgetting this wisdom is detrimental to both the individual and the community.