One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life…
Psalm 27:4a
If you could ask the Lord for one thing, what would it be? This week I wrote discussion questions for my women’s Bible study on Psalm 27. I love the way David expressed his “one thing” desire – to seek the Lord, and to “dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of his life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple.” At the time David was living, that is where God’s presence was known, in the holy of holies in the tabernacle, and later in the temple that David’s son Solomon built.
But now, as those who have received the gift of salvation through faith in Jesus, we are the temple of God, and His Holy Spirit lives in us! (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). Stop for a moment, and let that truth sink into your heart! We don’t have to travel to a temple to meet with the Lord. He is with us at all times and promises never to leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). The Holy Spirit lives in us! I wish I had known that earlier in my life!
In John 6:38, we read Jesus’ “one thing” desire: “I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of Him [the Father] who sent Me.” If our desire is to do the will of the Father, we need to depend on the Holy Spirit in us to lead us and show us God’s will, and then trust Him to give us all that we need to do it! We can even ask God to change our hearts and give us that desire.
I love the promise in Luke 11:13 (New Living Translation): “If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.” The Holy Spirit comes to live in every believer at the moment of salvation. The “much more” God tells us to ask for, I believe, is more awareness of His constant presence, more awareness of our need to depend on Him for the ability to hear His voice as He speaks to us and leads us according to the Father’s will. As we experience more and more of His presence in our lives, we become more like Jesus, listening to Him, obeying, following His will and purpose for our lives. We can trust Him throughout every day, knowing that He loves us and that nothing touches our lives without His knowledge and permission.
David cried out to the Lord with his desire, and the Lord answered, “Seek My face.” And David responded, “My heart said to You, Your face, O Lord, I shall seek” (Psalm 27:8). So, what does it mean to seek the Lord’s face? It means to spend time with Him regularly, getting to know Him better as we read His Word, to see who He is and what He has done for us. As we begin to understand how much He loves and cares for us, we will have a deepening relationship with Him that will strengthen our faith to trust Him with every moment of our lives, and make us willing daily to follow His will and purpose for our lives, no matter what!
Daniel Henderson, author of the book “Transforming Prayer,” says this about seeking God:
God calls us to an intimate encounter as we pursue Him with all our hearts. In my understanding, to seek his face means to set our hearts to seek Him in worship with biblical understanding, submitting completely to the control of His Spirit with a longing to know and enjoy Him more. Again, it is not about rehearsing a quick list of needs with God, but seeking Him because of who He is, with a passion for deeper intimacy and experience of His presence.
PERSONAL REFLECTION
What is the “one thing” you would ask from the Lord?
He invites us to ask for more of His Holy Spirit. Do you want more of His presence and power in your life? He delights in answering that prayer.
What steps will you take to seek His face?