“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.” Psalm 27:4
“If you could ask God for one thing, what would it be?” Money, power, or good health? When I was younger, I wanted to fly Apache helicopters, but bad eyesight ruined that. Leaving high school going to college to play football, my want to play pro and be rich. When I finally surrendered to God’s call to ministry I wanted to become a pastor of a large church and preach my heart out. In my current season of life, my one thing seems like several. I want to be debt free. I want to be the best husband, father to my kids, and Pops to my grands. I want to be a good pastor to the people in my life. Yet, the one thing I have learned in my quick 41 years of life is that the things you ask of the Lord may drive a large portion of your life.
Our one things can consume our thoughts, energy, money, and time. So, we better make sure it’s worth it. Looking back over my list, I see these as good things that could have beneficial to my life, but were they ever going to satisfy me fully? No, never. King David gives us a practical moment from his life. You know King David? Giant slayer, King Saul dodger, awkward moment with Bathsheba, murder, king of God’s people, and man after God’s own heart? While not all of David’s moments from life are worth imitating, his desire to be with God is something that cannot be denied. David knew he was successful because he asked God for one thing; to dwell with God all the days of his life.
David’s one thing is now my new one thing to ask of God. I want to learn what David learned during his life: everything else falls into place when God is my greatest desire. When more of my Father is the one thing I ask for, everything else falls into its rightful place underneath the will of God. After a couple of years asking God for more of Him, I have seen that it is the one ask God always comes through for. All my past one things may still happen, only time will tell. Yet, when I ask God to let me dwell in His presence and to get lost in His beauty, He comes through every single time.
We can never go wrong asking for more of God. More presence, more glimpses, more encounters, more time, and more intimacy; these are life changers. The way life works, we will never run out of needs to ask for. But my hope is no matter how great my needs are, and how crazy life is, my one thing will always be more God. I hope you will take some time to make that your one thing too. Give it a shot; give it two weeks. Ask God for more of Him and see what life is like when He is your greatest need. What one thing do you need to set aside for a season to ask for more of God?
Prayer: Father God , thank you for allowing me to dwell in Your presence and to get lost in Your beauty. How different my life is when You are my one thing! Lord my needs, concerns, and worries shrink when I am focused on You because You know me and You care for me. Help me to make You my one thing and to keep You my one thing. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
