I Kings 3:5,12-14
At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you." --
Ask for whatever you want! We must know what we want to ask for, and be specific.
"I will do what you have asked: I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be."
And expect the answer. Expect to receive it, look for it, act as though you already have it.
"Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for--both riches and honor--so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings."
Also expect and look for what would come as a result of the answer to what you have asked for; in Solomon's case, he asked for wisdom to govern, and it resulted in also bringing him riches and honor.
"And if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life."
Then there is a condition: to live our own life according to the "Manufacturer's Operating Manual" will result in a long life to enjoy the benefits of answered prayer for a long time.
Obeying God's rules and ways always results in God giving us all the benefits and He receives all the glory, the credit, because that's how He planned it all out from the beginning.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
