"One Thing"
The one thing I ask of the Lord — the thing I seek most—is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord 's perfections and meditating in his Temple. (Psalm 27:4 NLT)
If you could ask God for just one thing, what would it be? You get one shot at it. One wish, if you will, one prayer request to be answered.
Many of us would ask for health. Many of us would ask for healing. Some of us would ask for wealth. Would we ask for family members back, a better job, a better life, better kids, better spouse, better car?
The list is endless. It would be hard to pinpoint just one thing. David's one request here has three parts but it's one basic idea. He says, "One thing I ask of the Lord & this will I seek." He not only wants to ask God for it, he wants to put his life where his words are. He says he will ask AND seek.
What is this great request worthy of his life's pursuit? God. He just wants God. He wants to be in the presence of God.
We take the presence of God for granted everyday. We know our theology, that God is present everywhere, so we don't think twice about him being here, being with us. But David longs for more than this. He wants to know God personally. Listen to how he qualifies his request. He says, "Delighting in the Lord 's perfections and meditating in his Temple." He wants to be with God to delight in the perfections of God & meditate on him in his temple, delighting in God personally & corporately. This is David's one thing.
Don't know about you, but I'm not sure this would have been my one thing to ask of God. In fact, I'm not sure it would have even been on my radar. When I think about asking for something from God I think about what he can give. I don't often think about asking for him.
I think this should alter our prayer lives. We should ask for God first. Before healing, ask for his presence. Before stuff, ask for him. Before his creation, ask for the creator. Before his gifts, ask for the giver. This is the difference between David & me.
We may find that we are so satisfied with the giver that the gifts don't seem to measure up. We may find ourselves so satisfied in him that whatever circumstance led to our request for something, has faded in light of someone.
What one thing would you ask for?
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