Psalm 27:4

"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." (Psalm 24:7, NIV)

This is one of those verses with which most of us are familiar; Matt Redman's musical adaption of this verse in "Better is One Day" brings me back to my college days. I am struck by the Psalmist's singular request - to dwell in God's house. In the Old Testament the people of Israel understood that God was especially present in the tabernacle or temple. David, being a man after God's own heart, longs to be with His Maker.

I am reminded of the newer song we are singing "Just to Be With You" - "All I want, All I need/Is just to be with You, just to be with You". I can hear David singing words like this. He needed to experience God's presence firsthand. There was a sense of desperation.

How desperate are we to be in God's presence? Is there a sense of urgency in our hearts to meet with Him? What does seeing Him, sensing Him, enjoying Him mean in our everyday lives?

How thankful am I that I can be in a personal relationship with my Maker through Jesus' sacrifice and continued intercession? Whereas those in the Old Covenant went to a place to experience God, I am able to to experience His presence anywhere because His Spirit lives in me - wow.

LORD, give me a heart like David's, a heart that longs to be with you. Not just to know things about You, or to sing pretty words about You, but to really see and savor You in creation, in my children, in the Word - in all things. Amen.