Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of the temple is one of the greatest intercessory prayers recorded in Scripture and the importance of the occasion serves to highlight the significance of the prayer. The temple was the symbol of God’s open way. God had opened over Israel a window to heaven and upon them he would bestow his favour. From this time on when Jewish people prayed, wherever that may be, they would pray facing the temple. This was not because it was some kind of good luck charm, but as a gesture of appeal to the mercy of God that was symbolised in the temple. We do the same thing when we pray ‘in Jesus’ name’. This is not a magic formula but an appeal to the mercy of God that was manifest in Jesus. God answers prayer. It is easy to lose confidence in this and lower our expectations of God. If you start to lose confidence in God’s willingness to answer prayer you will inevitably pray less. But in fact, there are few things that God wants us to be more confident of. He wants us to believe in his willingness to answer prayer. If God doesn’t give you what you ask for it is only because he has a better idea and he only always wants the best for us and those we pray for. God says to you today: ‘What is it that you want me to do for you?’
Pray for the things that most concern you.
Read 2 Chronicles 6
