THURSDAY, December 31

1 Kings 3:5-14. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people.

"Ask what I should give you," the Lord said to Solomon. Solomon was king of Israel, so he asked for the wisdom to govern well. His answer pleased the Lord.

What would you say if the Lord asked you to name what he would give you? Since most of the readers of this meditation will not become heads of state, there's no use asking for the wisdom to govern well. But what would you ask for? Here are some things I might ask for:

• The wisdom to know right from wrong in my own life and the courage to act on it.
• Generosity of spirit so that I display something of the character of the God who loves me and died for me.
• A gentle tongue.
• Faith, when the news of the day is frightening, that God really is in charge and that good really will triumph in the end.
• Work that contributes to the well-being of others and the ability to do it well.
• A holy death and a holy rising.

What would you ask for?

PRAY for the Diocese of Zululand (Southern Africa)

Ps 46, 48; James 4:13-17; 5:7-11; John 5:1-15

View the daily Lectionary Readings at Satucket.com.
Or view the Bible passages at Biblegateway.com.

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Dec 31, 2009 at 9:51 am

Written by Andrea,

I start every day asking God to grant me the serenity to accept what can't be changed, the courage to change what can, and the wisdom to know the difference. That's worked wonders in my life so far, so it would be at the top of my list going forward. I might also ask to be an instrument of God's love and peace in the world (in a St. Francis prayer kind of way) - to desire more to love than to be loved, to comfort than to be comforted, etc. Overall, I would (and do) ask that I get out of the way and let God do God's will through me and in the world. Thanks for the meditations this month, Dick, and also for this new format. Happy New Year!

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Dec 31, 2009 at 9:59 am

Written by BS,

Peace within
Patience with all
Greater Faith
Deeper Knowledge of God
Guidance to do his will not mine

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Dec 31, 2009 at 10:16 am

Written by Steve Doutt,

Universal mental health.
I pray that this year there is a pandemic peace outbreak.

God, bless us all.

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Dec 31, 2009 at 10:27 am

Written by Timothy Holsonback,

Oh Lord, please keep my mouth shut and my ears and eyes open.

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Dec 31, 2009 at 10:29 am

Written by JK,

Daily I ask God to help me be more loving, more generous with my time and resources, and better able to see the face of Jesus in the people I meet.

Editor, Forward Day by Day

Dec 31, 2009 at 10:51 am

Written by Richard H. Schmidt,

Thanks to all five of you for your comments today. You may be interested to know of a little tract that Forward Movement offers---I don't have the catalog in front of me, but I think it sells for 50 cents or 75 cents---of prayers from classic Christian sources surrendering our wills to God. I use it every morning in my prayer time. It's called "Prayers for Guidance and Surrender." Both the Serenity Prayer and the Prayer of St. Francis are in it, along with about 15 other prayers on that theme. Ask your rector to order some for your church. That way you won't have to order one and pay shipping and handling, which would cost more than the piece itself. That's my favorite of all the things we publish. It's been a pleasure writing the meditations this month. Thanks to all of you for responding, and God bless you all. Dick

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Dec 31, 2009 at 11:10 am

Written by BS,

Dick,
Your are quite welcome, I only wished I would have started posting comments earlier in the motnh. Have a blessed and Happy New Year!

Bob

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