I’ve asked God for many things in my life. I’ve prayed before countless tests and exams, visits to the dentist, and important phone calls. In my life I prayed for good grades, good health, a good wife, a good job, a good place to call home, children, and these days, a good night’s sleep. I’m sure that I’ll pray for many more things in the years to come.
If I could pray just one thing, what would it be? A million dollars (tax free)? Fame and popularity? Or like with a genie, for three more wishes? In Psalm 27 we see a prayer for just one wish:
“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.” (Ps 27:4 ESV)
We know that God doesn’t exist in one building or atop just one mountain. In these globe-trekking days, where is “the house of the Lord”?
With Christ we see that the ““the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14) — that God moved his house to where we were. And we look to the future when the resurrected will dwell in ““the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God” (Heb 11:10). But what about now? Between the first and final resurrection, why should we pray this singular prayer?
Dwelling in God’s house is not as much about longitude and latitude as it is about a relationship, an attitude, a direction.
In God’s house…
- our identity is as citizens of Christ’s kingdom
- our safety is secured by God’s protection
- our provision is reliable as His children
- our hope is in his faithfulness, because he’s come through before
- our worth, our beauty is in Him
- we feel most at home.
Is that worth praying for? Is that better than passing an exam, an audit, or passing by the dentist’s drill? If I had to pray one thing, this sounds good. It doesn’t cover everything I want, but it covers everything that God knows I need.
So the next time I experience an unanswered prayer or become impatient waiting for God, may I narrow my wish list to just one thing…
“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…. Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!” (Ps 27:4,14)
