Eccl 9:11 (NIV) I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.

Jesus, keep reminding me that the decisions Solomon made was why his mind was torturing him. People like Solomon always want to go against God’s truth and then blame Him for all the horrible things that happen to them. Help me benefit from the mistakes he made and be ready for You to show me what Solomon COULD have had, if he had only yielded to the Holy Spirit God gave him.

Rom 8:28 (NIV) And we KNOW that in ALL THINGS God works for the GOOD of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Jesus, I have seen Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses experience the influence of God. I know it isn’t by time and chance. Me receiving Your salvation has caused my old life to pass away and my new life to come into existence.

Rom 8:1 (NIV) Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the SPIRIT of life set me free from the law of sin and death. Jesus, teach me that condemnation is to be separated from God. Help me always realize that God didn’t separate Himself from Solomon; Solomon walked away from God one decision at a time. I am growing in my relationship with God one decision at a time. Solomon had a God-given free will; and, I have a God-given free will. I thank You Jesus that You helped me choose the right way!

Rom 8:3-4 (NIV) For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending His Own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so He condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the SPIRIT. Jesus, as I learn about the purpose and procedures of the Spirit of Truth, make it clear to me that I will overcome the sinful nature located in my body.

Jesus, teach me that once Solomon stopped yielding to the power of the Spirit of TRUTH he couldn’t stop himself. He yielded to the sexual desires of his body rather than the Spirit. His life went down the tube and my life is moving into victorious Christian living.

Jesus, help me always realize that Solomon knew what was right and wrong because of the laws of Moses. But, he wasn’t able to live them because the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature in his body. Show me that, that is why God gave him the Spirit of TRUTH. He would have empowered him to set a great example before the nation.

Rom 8:5 (NIV) Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the SPIRIT have their minds set on what the SPIRIT desires. Jesus, teach me that the Bible can tell me what I should be doing and if I read it as law, I will try to obey and fail. But, if I read it as the creation power of the Spirit of TRUTH, He will create it in me. Help me believe that He will give me the power, desire, and results the Bible presented to me.

Phil 4:8 (NIV) Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Jesus, teach me that I can know the Spirit of TRUTH, the Holy Spirit. He created the power for me to think about such things. Now I know I have my mind set on what the SPIRIT desires. Help me know that the Holy Spirit would have been glad to teach and empower Solomon to get his mind set on His desires. That would have given him peace. Help me keep my mind set on Philippians 4:8 things.

Rom 8:6 (NIV) The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the SPIRIT is life and peace. Jesus, Solomon’s mind was torturing him to death. He didn’t have any life or peace. He was living a life of death even while he was still on the planet. Empower me to NOT try ANY of those things Solomon tried; and, help me assist my friends in not trying them either. Jesus, make it clear to me that if anyone could have made the things of their body, the world, and the devil work, it was Solomon. But, since he couldn’t do it, let his example save me and my friends from trying it.

Rom 8:7-8 (NIV) The sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. Jesus, show me that the more Solomon walked away from God and His Holy Spirit, the deeper he went into hostility. Show me Solomon’s lack of appreciation. The God that blessed him with all those opportunities and the wisdom to utilize them, was ignored and eventually hated. All those things that gave him the resources to really help the nation of Israel were selfishly absorbed. Protect me from that kind of attitude.

Rom 8:9 (NIV) You, however, are controlled NOT by the sinful nature but by the SPIRIT, if the SPIRIT of God lives IN you. And if anyone does not have the SPIRIT of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. Since every Christian has the Holy Spirit come inside them, then help me always know that I have the Holy Spirit inside me. BUT, teach me that He WILL NOT take control of my life without permission. AND, teach me that it is NOT a control that I give in a general way. Teach me that it is a moment-by-moment and issue-by-issue choice I have to make to give Him control.

Rom 8:10 (NIV) But if Christ is IN you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. Jesus, help me see that Solomon took more and more control over his life as the days went by. He gained more and more confidence in himself as he used his God-given wisdom. Soon he totally believed in himself and stopped believing in the God that blessed him. Show me that soon his life started heading down into the pit that I found him in as I read the book of Ecclesiastes. Make it clear to me that the Holy Spirit wants to protect me from that happening to me.

Gal 2:20 (NIV) I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me. Jesus, teach me that my body is the opening through which the things of the world and the devil flow. If I will believe that I joined You on the cross and died to my body, then I will be able to believe that my body has been crucified with Christ and...no longer lives. Show me that, that gets me ready for saying: “Christ lives in me.”

Rom 8:11 (NIV) And if the SPIRIT of Him Who raised Jesus from the dead is living IN you, He Who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His SPIRIT, Who lives IN you. Jesus, help me see the devastation when Solomon’s body took control over him. Show me that the world and the devil were having a free-for-all as they flowed like a river into Solomon’s life. Let this creation verse give me power over my body. Show me that I and the Holy Spirit are going to be able to make my body do more and more things that are pleasing to God.

Rom 8:12-13a (NIV) Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation--but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die. Jesus, I saw that death in Solomon. The life was being sucked right out of him. The more he allowed his body, the world, and the devil have their way in him, the more he lost control over himself. Help me see how much they addicted him, lied to him, cheated him, and depressed him. Help me understand that they were sealing his doom moment by moment and issue by issue.

Rom 8:13b-14 (NIV) But if BY the SPIRIT YOU put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the SPIRIT of God are sons of God. Jesus, what a wonderful life Solomon would have had if BY the Spirit HE had put to death the misdeeds of his body. I may not have the money, possessions, positions, power, prestige, popularity, pleasure, and accomplishments that Solomon had; but, make it clear to me that God has an awesome plan for my life that is MUCH better than Solomon’s.