This sounds a lot like a genie and lamp incident: In Gibeon, the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night; and God said, “Ask what you wish me to give you” (1 Kings 3:5). But this was no genie! The Lord himself came to Solomon, the One who spoke the world into existence, the One by whose power every living things draws breath. What if God appeared to you and inquired, "What should I give you?" What would you ask for?
On the National Day of Prayer, I stood at the entrance to Walmart (along with friends) and asked people a similar question. Here's what we said: "Today is the National day of Prayer and the churches of Collierville are sponsoring a prayer station in the parking lot - how can we pray for you, today?" We received and prayed for over 1,000 prayer requests.
Some folks wanted to win the lottery. Many shared concerns for the health of friends and family members. A few disclosed their need for spiritual guidance and strength. So what did God think of these requests? Not all requests are created equal. God makes a distinction between them - and discerns some that are more noble than others. When Solomon answered the Lord, his request was one of the good ones - here's how God responded: It was pleasing in the sight of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing (1 Kings. 3:10).
If God appeared to you and posed the same question, what would you say? Would yours be a dumb request or pleasing prayer? What would be the BEST request you could possibly make? What would you like God to grant you, something that would prompt Him to say, "Now that's a good prayer request!"
Jim --- I LOVE the idea of taking prayer requests of people at Walmart. You mentioned, "a prayer station in the parking lot". Did you have a place where people were praying for these request right there in the parking lot?
Posted by: David Morris | September 25, 2008 at 01:39 PM
Yeah, we did, toward the back of the parking lot. It was a lot of fun and pretty humbling.
Posted by: Jeff | September 25, 2008 at 02:14 PM
David,
Here's a link to a later post with a picture and brief description. http://lightwork.typepad.com/lightwork/2008/09/pray-in-a-parking-lot.html
Posted by: Jim Fleming | September 26, 2008 at 12:04 AM