SEEKING WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT

What would you or I ask for if we had one wish today?  I was asking myself that question when I encountered this verse from Psalm 27:

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

What is the one thing we ask and seek of the Lord in times of joy, sorrow, turmoil, confusion, success, failure, danger, decline? 

I found it interesting when I read the next verses that describe the results of seeking the presence of the Lord – and I wonder if we don’t often go looking for the results rather than the source of that reality. 

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. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord.  Psalm 27:5-6

When we find ourselves in trouble and distress, what’s the first thought in our minds and hearts? “God, I want You above all else” or God what are you doing?  Why aren’t you fixing this?  God, why aren’t you giving me an answer about this?  Why didn’t you show up?  Why haven’t you changed things?  Why am I still experiencing this difficulty?  What’s wrong?

Are we dwelling in the house of the Lord today, making our first thought and action to gaze on the beauty of God’s presence with us and His promise to care for us when we put Him first so we don’t need to worry about anything? 

Heavenly Father, we do become concerned about many things in our own lives, in the lives of those we love, and in the deterioration of things in society around us.  We need Your help, Holy Spirit, to keep our heart longing for the presence of the Lord and to see the beauty of God’s presence with us.

With those who are recovering from addiction, as Step 11 of Alcoholics Anonymous encourages us, we seek “through prayer and mediation to improve our conscious contact with God, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry it out.”

As we do that, we join our confidence with King David who followed up his prayer to seek You with these words:

I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.  Psalm 27:13-14