Have you ever been around a child (or adult, for that matter) you would classify as a spoiled brat?  You know the one I’m talking about.  They’re never happy with anything they’ve been given and are constantly asking for everything shiny in their line of site.  I was recently walking through Walmart shopping for groceries.  Once I reached the third aisle of the grocery section I heard it.  “Momma—I want that!!  Gimme, gimme, gimme!!!”  Having experienced it with my own children (who, according to their grandparents, are perfect angels-HA!) I simply responded in my mind, “Bless her heart.”  Kids have a mind of their own and we can’t always control their outbursts.  I continued walking.  Four the next ten minutes I (and everyone within 200ft) continued to hear that child, over and over again, “Momma—I want that!!  Gimme, gimme, gimme!!!”  By the time I reached the last aisle for my milk I, like many of the shoppers around me, was ready to get out of there.  The constant (and loud) whining was stressing me out.  I grabbed that gallon of milk and walked quickly to the front to check out as the voice began to fade.  Then I had a thought.  Is this what God hears when I pray? 

Have you ever paid attention to the types of prayers you pray?  I’ll be the first to admit there have been times I’ve found myself stating, “Daddy—I want that!!!  Gimme, gimme, gimme!!!”  I ashamed of those moments.  1 Kings 3 tells us of God coming to Solomon in a dream.  God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” (v.5).  Wow!  He could have asked for anything!  His response was, “…give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong.” (v.9)  Wait!  What?!?  Come on Solly!  You could have asked for a new castle, a stronger army, greater riches, a new chariot!  Apparently, he had learned a thing of two from his flawed yet God-loving earthly father, King David.  Verses 10-15 state, “The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.  Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings.  And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.”  And God was true to His word.   

Final remarks and encouragement:  God honors faithfulness to His kingdom.  When we endeavor to live a life that is pleasing to Him we have no need to ask for the selfish things.  Not only did God honor Solomon’s genuine prayer for wisdom to govern His people in the right way, He also blessed him with both wealth and honor to the extent there was none considered his equal during that time period. (v.13)  I encourage you to inspect your prayers.  Don’t be a spoiled brat!  If your genuine desire is the furthering of His kingdom you’ll have no need to be selfish.