“And now, Lord my God, you have made me, your servant, king in my father David’s place. But I’m young and inexperienced. I know next to nothing.” – 1 Kings 3:7 (CEB)
I know next to nothing. That is the king of Israel talking, in the middle of asking God for something.
Notice that he is not being modest for effect. Nobody is in the room. This is a dream, and the admission is load-bearing: it is the reason for the request that follows. He asks for discernment because he does not have it, and he says so plainly first.
Most of us have learned to lead with competence. We say what we know and go quiet about the rest, especially when we are new and especially when people are watching for us to fail. Solomon does the opposite, and it turns out to be the most useful thing he says all night. You cannot ask for what you will not admit you lack. What do you need this week that you haven’t admitted you need?
God, I am tired of pretending to know more than I do. Show me where I am out of my depth, and give me what I need there. Amen.