Ask First

“But Jehoshaphat said to the King of Israel, ‘First, please ask what the Lord’s will is.’” (1 Kings 22:5 CSB)

King Jehoshaphat of Judah visited Ahab, king of Israel for a powwow. Ahab invited Jehoshaphat to join him in attacking and reclaiming the city of Ramoth-Gilead. Jehoshaphat essentially said, “Sure, glad to.” But then he added, “First, please ask what the Lord’s will is.” Way to go, Jehoshaphat!

We often have ideas about what can be done, what needs to be done, and what we intend to get done. Some ideas are small and don’t need much of any thought, but there are some ideas that can be monumental in their outcomes. Throughout our thinking processes, we need to be sure to first ask what the Lord’s will is. In reality, for believers this is a critical question to ask. It really doesn’t matter how good an idea may be or how good it may sound; if it is not of the Lord, it won’t accomplish what is needed. The writer of Proverbs said it this way, “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who labor are laboring in vain.” The validity and success of any idea or action is directly tied to whether it is the Lord’s will or not.

The way we know the Lord’s will is to first of all ask. James tells us, “You have not because you ask not, and when you ask you ask for the wrong reasons.” Jesus told us, “Ask, and it will be opened to you.” Finding the Lord’s will and His guidance is first and foremost a matter of asking. We need to first ask Him, and we need to persist in our asking until His will is made clear to us. Then, we act, and we act in faith.

Lord, Help us today to first remember to ask Your will in all our actions. Amen.