Proverbs 15: 30 “The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and a good report makes the bones healthy.”
Dear God,
It is good to read about Your blessing of Solomon with wisdom, in answer to his request, shortly after his taking office. At this time Solomon knew that all true wisdom is with God and whence a departure from this wisdom would take a person, V 33 “The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, and before honour is humility.”
In fact for a good period of his life afterwards, liaisons with numerous idolatrous woman, plus his pride, love of wealth and honour, led him into apostasy and wickedness toward You his God and Your requests; which obscured his spiritual wisdom.
What a lesson for us! It is evident that You love to bless Your children and for some, this will be in riches and fame, and for others it is in spiritual matters, or teaching and many other numerous ways that enhance others and dispense Your blessings. Sadly very few can stay focused upon loving You after being in receipt of the blessings of money, possessions, recognition and praise etc., for some time, without thinking it all came due to their own efforts. It seems for many, in typical sinful human gratitude, they stop loving and acknowledging the giver of the gifts and blessings.
Even though I am retired now after never accumulating great wealth, honour and accolades to a much lesser degree than was the case for Solomon or people in public life now. I even now have risks to my spiritual life, for distractions come in numerous guises. It only takes one step to start a journey, or push off to start a slide downhill.
Because I have been made aware of the risks, I will arm myself with prayer and will keep praying for the protection of Your Spirit to surround me, along with angels sent from heaven. I have found that looking upward to Jesus; my Light bestows upon me happiness and restores my heart. It has been found that every piece of good news, which includes the good news of salvation, is good for the health of the heart and bones.
I have sometimes found that it is hard to accept correction. Unless I come to You, and in the wisdom and strength of the Spirit, I then am able to humble all of myself before You in prayer. I know that it must be during our life on earth, the rebukes of life will come, and if I heed them and learn from them, I am more likely to be improved mentally as well as be more spiritually wise. It is by so doing that I will gain understanding about many of the things in life and be capable of enhanced interactions with others; including some of the things of God. Proverbs 15: 31, 32 “He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, and he who heeds rebuke gets understanding. The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, and before honour is humility.”
In Your given wisdom, I can see that it is an honour for You to love me, and to seek me out, communicate with me and plan for me to be in heaven. I desire to never make Your gifts and plans for me to come to naught. By using every one of my senses, I give You praise!
Amen