Psalm 27:4 (NIV)
One thing I ask from the Lord,
this only do 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.
Devotion
David frequently asked God for help – for success in battle, forgiveness and the life of his son. So, this verse grabs my attention as it reveals the “one thing” David asks from God – i.e., to dwell in the God’s house and gaze on “the beauty of the Lord” and seek Him in His temple.
By “the beauty of the Lord,” I believe David means God’s perfect love. Gazing on the beauty of the Lord might, in a small way, be similar to the awestruck, captivated feeling I have when I gaze at a stunning starry sky, watch a gorgeous sunrise, or stare fascinated at a newborn baby. For me to experience this depth of feeling – being intimidated by its beauty, but also drawn toward it – I must take time to be attentive. And David’s desire “to seek God in His temple,” to me, means actively learning about God’s perfect love.
Like David, we should “gaze on the beauty of the Lord,” study God and be captivated by God’s awesome love for us, which all takes time and attention. How can we become fascinated by, or even know, God’s perfect love if we’re overly distracted by our busy lives?
Our theme, Making Room for God, hit home with me, a workaholic. In preparing this devotion, I found some suggestions. A few that have already proven helpful are: Be more attentive – continually look for evidence of God’s love in others and in nature. On walks, be more aware of nature while connecting to God. Include something I’m grateful for in mealtime blessings. Ponder last Sunday’s sermon or an inspirational reading (see below) throughout the day.
Prayer
Lord, help calm my mind. Help me to take the time and make the effort to learn about and be aware of your perfect love in and all around me. Amen.
Bill Cassels
Further Resources
Painting: King David Playing the Harp, 1622 by Gerrit van Honthorst
Hymns:
“Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” This beautiful hymn by Helen Howarth Lemmel (1863-1961) urges us to direct our attention toward God, and, by doing so, “the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus by Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus by Alan Jackson
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus by Fountainview Academy (original melody)
“Open the Eyes of My Heart (I Want to See You)”
Open The Eyes Of My Heart sung by the composer, Paul Baloche
Readings – for thoughts to ponder: In addition to the Bible, there are countless books, magazines and websites offering worthwhile thoughts about God. These are just a few I’ve read that speak to me. I usually read a short passage – enough to extract a thought to ponder throughout the day.
Mere Christianity, by C. S. Lewis
The Language of God, by Francis Collins
The Upper Room. I hadn’t looked at this source for many years. I read the current issue in preparing this devotion. I was impressed. The Upper Room reading for today is relevant to David’s desire to seek God in his temple – to study about God’s love, which makes God’s word come alive.
Reading — for simplifying life:
Simplifying Your Daily Time with God, by Jennifer Hayes Yates
Video:
13 Things I Quit to Simplify My Life & Grow Closer to God, by Maryl De Milo