One Thing I Desire

One thing I ask from the LORD is this: 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 tPt)

Two words with a lot of power, "ONE THING", have been a central thread throughout my life with the Lord since I committed my life to Him in my teens. These words, found in Psalm 27:4, encapsulate my deepest desire and aspiration in my spiritual journey.

These two words, "ONE THING", hold a profound power in my life, serving as a guiding light that I always return to when I’m off track or uncertain.

I encountered these words in Psalm 27:4 while a student at university many years ago. They remind me of the focus of my daily life when I am tempted to give up, fall back into a mindset of rule-keeping religion, or let other concerns predominate. "ONE THING" reminds me of my desired focus as a believer—a relationship with Him. My walk with God is more

meaningful when my passion for God drives what I am and do rather than mere rule-keeping and outward conforming to a stereotype of who a Christian should be.

In Proverbs, it says:

So, above all, guard the affections of your heart, for they affect all that you are. Pay attention to the welfare of your innermost being, for the wellspring of life flows from there. (Proverbs 4:23 tPt)

Amidst the clamour of many voices vying for our time and attention, discernment becomes paramount. We must carefully choose who we listen to and what we give our affection to.

Paying attention to where I focus in life is essential if I want to stay on track. A minor example is if I don’t pay attention to where I put my keys when I come in, I can waste time later looking for them. Does what I give my attention to during the day bring me closer to God or further from Him, even when I’m busy with people or tasks? What am I passionate about? What occupies my mind mostly?

I've found that starting the day by worshipping God and listening to encouraging truths from the Bible on a regular basis helps me be intentional about making Jesus my ONE THING.

Spend time meditating on Psalm 27:4 . How do I guard my heart and affections? What things can distract me? What is it about God that makes me want to focus on him?

Have you thought about these questions?