One Thing

ONE THING

One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: 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 seek him in his temple. Psalm 27:4

David prayed for a great many things: he begged for mercy in times of trouble: O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am faint; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are in agony (Psalm 6:1-2). He praised the excellence of God’s name revealed in creation: O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens (Psalm 8:1). He rejoiced in God and thanked Him for His portion: LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance (Psalm 16:5-6). He committed his words and meditation to the Lord: May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer (Psalm 19:14).

David’s prayers were many, his requests broad and deep. Yet when it came down to one thing, one request, one petition to God in prayer it focused down to this: One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: 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 seek him in his temple (Psalm 27:4).

David’s prayer to dwell in the house of the LORD may have been literal. He had it on his heart to build a house for the Name of his Lord and God, but God assigned the building project to Solomon, David’s son (1 Chronicles 22). It may also have been the one thing needed most – a request to daily dwell in God’s presence.

Is that your primary prayer request, too? Do you long to dwell, live, inhabit, and stay in God’s presence all the days of your life? Is being with God your one thing?

It’s a difficult thing for children to narrow Christmas gift lists down to one thing. I know firsthand the challenges of narrowing a week’s worth of clothes and seemingly essentials into a carry-on suitcase.

It can be a difficult thing for God’s children to narrow their thinking, choices, and actions to one thing, too. Even as we seek to serve our families, our churches, and the ministry of GEMS we can become distracted Martha’s missing the one thing Jesus wanted for her and for you and me – to sit at His feet (Luke 10:35-42).

Prayer Step: What is your greatest prayer desire today? Seek the one thing needed most – to daily linger in God’s presence.

So often when I’ve rushed through my prayer time, jumped up off my knees, quickly shut my Bible, closed my notebook, and hurried to take on my day, I wonder what blessings I missed because I haven’t made the time to stay in His presence?

Anne Graham Lotz

In Grace and Peace,
Lenae