“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.”
{Psalm 27:4, NIV}
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One Thing . . .
Kids will sometimes ask each other: “If you could have just one wish granted, what would it be?”
Their answers will vary from “a bazillion dollars” to “a pet dog.”
It’s not a bad question to ask ourselves either. Oftentimes our answer will reveal what is currently happening in our hearts.
What is the one thing your heart longs for most?
Our answers may vary . . .
More time.
A good friend.
A healed body.
A restored relationship.
Perhaps it’s “all of the above.” And that’s okay too.
Our longings indicate our hearts’ deepest stirrings. So when I read Psalm 27, I am drawn to the “one thing” David asked of God — to dwell in His house forever. More than anything, David longed to be in God’s presence.
This is why David was called “a man after God’s own heart.” David experienced plenty of highs and lows in his lifetime. He knew the pit of failure and the sting of loss. But the one overarching theme in David’s life was a singular longing to be in God’s presence.
And this is my prayer today . . . that our hearts will be filled with this one thing . . . a desire to dwell in His presence.
Lord, we know You see all things, You know all things. Fill our hearts with an ever-deepening desire for more of You. May the “one thing” of our hearts be a longing to be with You, in Your house forever. Amen.
Bev @ Walking Well With God says
Denise,
May my heart by like David’s, that my greatest desire would always be to be in God’s almighty and loving presence. Let my goal be to simply abide in Him and be in relationship with Him. That is the prayer of my heart this morning…thanks!
Blessings,
Bev
Beth Williams says
Lately my prayers have been God please come back soon! I want to leave this sinful world and be with you in Heaven! I wish my prayers were always like that! David truly was a man after God’s own heart!
Beth Werner Lee says
Such a timely scripture for my situation, looking for a rental to move into by July 15! Oh, that I could be like old Anna and live in the house of God. Or that any house I move to is a house of the Lord, that I could live as if it were his house. My husband longs to do morning prayer and evening prayer, and perhaps this move is the time to start the practice. I covet prayers for God’s clear guidance and for peace. Thank you.
Pat Calhoun says
Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart 🙂 Psalm 37:4
Tamie says
I too long for a lasting relationship with God. Ever since I can remember, he was part of my life but I never nurtured our commitment to each other. I believe a renewed and lifelong journey with Him is what my heart missing.
Blessings, Tamie
Andrea says
This is also so much the desire of my heart. Lord, please keep us to dwell in your house forever, in the beauty of your presence, with open windows and fresh breezes. We long for you! Make our narrow path straight and let your Kingdom Come.
Sandra Crittenden says
THAT I MAY DWELL IN YOUR SPIRIT AND SOUL IN YOUR PRESENCE. ONLY YOU WILL DO. YOUR PRESENCE IS WHAT I NEED FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE INTO ETERNITY.