Monday, February 18, 2019: Psalm 27:4

“One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.”

If you could ask God for one thing, what would it be? To restore a broken relationship? To heal someone you love who is sick? To ease a financial difficulty? To right an injustice?

David wrote these words in the midst of a life-threatening situation. He was confronted by evil men from whom God had not yet delivered him. Yet David’s one request of God was the presence of God. David trusted that if he was where God was, he would have everything he needed. In God’s presence, David would dwell and delight in prayer. We should also consider David’s son, Solomon. He actually had the opportunity to ask God for one thing (2 Chronicles 1:7-11.) Like his father before him, Solomon didn’t ask for wealth, possessions, honor, the death of his enemies, or even a long life. He, too, longed to dwell with God and inquire of God, so he asked for wisdom and knowledge. 

When we come to God to get God, we end up with everything else. That’s not to say we’ll prosper in an earthly sense or that all our troubles will suddenly fade away. Rather, we’ll prosper in the only ways that really matter–in love, grace, wisdom, faith, and every spiritual gift God gives. He is all we need.

  • Consider your prayer life. Do you primarily come to God as a means to an end, or do you come to God as the end?
  • Pray: There is one thing I ask, Lord, one thing I seek after: that I may live every moment of my life near you, praying in your beautiful presence. Ask God to reveal to you the things you need to put off, that you might draw nearer to Him this week.