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.

I’m sure this is many people’s favorite Psalm, because it is so loaded with marvelous verses, many of which have been set to music. I settled on this verse this morning because it expresses the attitude that enabled David to write all these Psalms. When we honestly hold being close to God as our highest goal, our greatest good, there is no end to the spiritual riches He pours out on us. The Japanese here has an interesting turn of phrase at the last of the verse. Where most English translations say, “inquire,” or “seek Him,” the Japanese says, “let my thoughts wander around.” That’s a very interesting image. Frankly, our thoughts do wander, sometimes quite often, but if they are wandering in God’s temple, that is, in His protected area, we don’t have to be worried about what they’ll settle on. Otherwise, that’s quite an issue! Spiritual warfare is a given, and most of it takes place in our minds. When we are firmly planted in God’s house, in His presence, our minds will stay pure and strong in Him. The sad truth is that we generally don’t stay there, and we open ourselves up to all sorts of attacks. God allows that so that we will grow, so that we will know without the shadow of a doubt that we can accomplish nothing right on our own, (John 15:5) but in Christ we can do absolutely anything He asks of us. (Philippians 4:13) One of the most attractive things about heaven is that we will be totally at rest and secure in God’s presence, with absolutely no anxiety or danger. That’s what we get to sign people up for!

I don’t know at what point this awareness became firm in my mind and heart, but I’m very thankful it has done so. The continuing challenge is to live it out here and now! It’s been over 10 years since the Lord told me to rest, relax, and rejoice, and I keep getting lessons in that. My GPA still has room for improvement! I do genuinely enjoy life at this point, but at the same time my anticipation of heaven continues to grow. I find the idea of living forever on this planet interesting, but at the same time pathetic, because it can’t possibly compare to living in eternity with the Creator of it all, who loves me so intensely that He gave His Son to die for me. I can recite this Psalm in all honesty (though I don’t have it memorized), and I am deeply grateful.

Father, thank You for Your incredible grace toward me. I am deeply aware of the definition of grace as unmerited favor. I haven’t earned any of this! Help me live out my gratitude consistently, not just because that is the best path for me, but so that those around me may also be drawn to repentance and faith for their salvation, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!