In my Bible time this morning, I was reading Psalm 27. In verse 4, David answers the question, “If I could ask one thing of GOD, what would it be?” His answer stopped me for a moment as I read it. I started thinking, “If I was asked this question, is this the first thing that would pop into my mind? Is this what I would ask GOD for if I could only ask one thing?” Ashamedly and honestly this would not be my first thought. I think of lists of circumstances and people that I love that need GOD’s intervention. And yet, humbly, this is the single most important request that each of us needs and should desire above all else.
So today I thank GOD that through these words of David, He redirected my focus exactly where it needed to be:
Psalm 27:4 “One thing I ask from the LORD,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the LORD
and to seek Him in His temple.
David goes on to say in verse 5, “For in the day of trouble
He will keep me safe in His dwelling;
He will hide me in the shelter of His sacred tent
and set me high upon a rock.”
That’s what we all need- to be living life in the presence of the LORD- for there’s where we find safety and shelter in hard times.
That’s where we can bring our troubles, our loved ones who are struggling, our joys, our hopes, our plans, and our questions at any time. The main point is not that we step in for a visit every now and then, but that we make our dwelling there- making our home in the Presence of the LORD. Ephesians 3:12 shows us how we can do this-how we can step into the very presence of GOD’s throne:
“In Jesus and through faith in Him,
we may approach GOD
with freedom and confidence.”
If you want to know more about who Jesus is and the life giving gift He offers freely to you- because He Himself has already paid the cost (Romans 5:6-8, 1 Peter 3:18, Romans 10:8-13)- I encourage you to read about Jesus’ life in the New Testament of the Bible starting with Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Find answers for yourself in His Word (the Bible) about Jesus’ life, His love, His compassion, His life giving sacrifice for all of us, and His final victory in His resurrection from the dead. He offers faith to all of us and an invitation to come into our lives and bring us to GOD.
Like David, I want a heart that desires living each day in the presence of GOD, and I want to say as David does in Psalm 27:8 :
“My heart says of you, ‘Seek His face!’
Your face, LORD, I will seek.”