Not Until You Ask!

May you hear the humble and earnest requests from me and your people Israel when we pray toward this place. Yes, hear us from heaven where you live, and when you hear, forgive.                2 Chronicles 6:21 NLT 

This was part of Solomon’s prayer when they were dedicating the temple. Solomon recognized that the temple was not only a place of worship, but also a place of prayer. So Solomon was asking God to honor their prayer when His people pray towards the temple. In other words, he was asking God to be attentive to their prayer. In 2 Samuel 22:7 David said, “But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I cried to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary my cry reached his ears.” David was speaking about his experiences with God and prayer.

Solomon also knew something about human nature. He understood that man by nature offends God. David prayed in Psalm 123:24, “Point out anything in me that offends you.” That is not easy to acknowledge. Mankind love to believe that whatever they do is just and right. But God answered David’s prayer. David’s actions were offensive to God and God pointed that out to him. Sometimes people have difficulty acknowledging their transgressions. David didn’t try to justify his behavior; in verse 1 of Psalm 51, David prayed, “Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.” David understood that his sin offended God.

In his prayer of dedication, Solomon asks God to hear the earnest prayer of His people. He didn’t stop there, but he asked God to forgive. Anyone who comes to God and asks for forgiveness, God will forgive.

Thought for Today: If you ask, then God will forgive.

Have a blessed day and walk in faith and victory.