Each day during the month of March we will be sharing a devotional from a booklet written by Steve Love. Steve is a member of Canton First and a Traumatic Brain Injury survivor. If you would like a complete PDF of this devotional, it can be downloaded here.
Day 6
1 Kings 3:11 – 12 (New International Version)
11 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, 12 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.
One night God came to Solomon and said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” What to ask for? Anything he wanted to ask God for he could. How many of us would love to have that opportunity? What would you ask God for? What did Solomon asked for, “Give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
God was very pleased by what Solomon asked for, “discernment in administering justice.” And He then tells him,” 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.” We all know Solomon for his wisdom. God gave him a “wise and discerning heart/mind.”
Wise and discerning heart/mind is what we must seek. We need to make wise choices in our lives. Brain injury does not help us to make wise choices. Just like with young kids, who must learn how to make the wise choices, we also must learn all over again. At times there is almost a battle going on in my head. When first released from the hospital, if I wanted to go someplace and no one could take me, I would start out on my own, no thought of the danger and no thought to the wisdom of listening to my caregivers.
Most of us had to learn the social skills we once had. Many times, I would say what was in my mind/heart. I did not know that I should just keep them to myself, I am sorry for the hurt feeling and pain I brought many people. If they had a not to flatting outfit on, I told them how bad they looked in it. My wife, who understands the problem I am faced with, helps me to understand what was wrong with my choice of words. One day she had a new bright orange shirt. Did I tell her she looked nice in it, no, I said “you look like a big pumpkin today.”
Solomon asked for “a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong.” We need to ask the same thing from God. A heart/mind that is discerning and able to distinguish between right and wrong. When we seek and want this God will give it to us. We will not have the Wisdom of Solomon but will have the wisdom we need to live our life.
Pray and thank God that He has the wisdom we need to live life.
Pray and thank God that He will help us to make the right choice in our life.
Pray and ask God to help us to think before we say what is on our mind and to keep quiet when we should.