That night God appeared to Solomon. God said, “What do you want from me? Ask.” 2 Chronicles 1:7 (MSG)
What do you want?
It’s such a revealing question. As an actor, I was trained to break a character’s words down and ask this question for almost every line of a play. “What is it you want?” For the character of Lars Knudsen (pictured), the motivations were pretty simple. Lars wanted his love, Martha.
A character, a person, you, and me – we all speak, act and think out of that which motivates us. Watch a person long enough, listen to their conversation, and you can often find what motivates them. Their words and their actions reveal their motivation. You can see what they want.
What do I want?
It’s not such an easy question to answer. I’d like to say I want wisdom and I want God’s will. But, the reality is that my words and my actions convict me of less honorable motivations.
Today, I’m trying to answer the question honestly. What do I want?
7 That night God appeared to Solomon. God said, “What do you want from me? Ask.”
God asks this of all of us. The difference, I believe, is how people answer it. Solomon gives us a great model of what God wanted to hear. Our material needs WILL be met…God promises that. So, today I am reminded to ask God not for things, but for more knowledge, more discernment, more wisdom. Those are the things that can help me honor Him more, rather than distract me.
Tom, provocative post. It was good for me to ask myself this question this morning. The more difficult moment is am I willing to hear the honest answer? Thanks for your thoughts and questions.