January 26, 2021
Read Psalm 27
In the book of 1st Samuel we learn of David. God had Samuel, His prophet, anoint David as the new king of Israel. But the current king, Saul, did not want to give up his position. He wanted to kill David. David was on the run from King Saul during this time of his life when he wrote Psalm 27. In the midst of David’s fear and with no place to dwell, he remembered the Lord. He recalled who the Lord is. He proclaimed his confidence in God. His Light, His Salvation. His Strength. David knew that the only one he could count on was God. The God who delivered him from the mouths of lions and bears as a shepherd boy. The God who delivered him from Goliath the mighty giant. The God who had chosen him and anointed him to be the next King of Israel. His one true God had been faithful, and he knew that his God would see him through to accomplish the purposes God placed upon his life.
In spite of the circumstances and the uncertainties that David was facing, his main focus and desire was intimacy with God. David said, “One thing have I desired of the Lord”. “One thing”. David wanted to dwell in the house of the Lord, to behold His beauty, inquire in His temple. David’s one desire was the presence of God. God remained first. David did not focus on his fears. In fact, David sang praises and cried out to God in the thick of his turmoil.
David’s focus was not what God could do for him. Even though he was on the run for his life and had plenty of prayer requests, he did not dwell on his predicament by just seeking the hand of God to change his situation. David wanted to dwell in God’s presence, and he knew in order to behold the beauty of the Lord, he must seek God’s face.
Are you in the midst of troubles and trials?
Is your prayer request list a mile long?
Where is your focus?
Is your focus on God’s hand or God’s face?
Is your first (one) desire to dwell in God’s presence?
Amid the difficulties David was facing, he instructed his heart to seek God’s face. In verse 8 of Psalm 27 we read, ”When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.”
I encourage you today to instruct your heart to seek the face of God, your current circumstances do not hinder God’s purpose for your life and remember that when this life comes to an end, only “One Thing” really matters.
Scriptures for Further Study:
Deuteronomy 4:29-30, 1 Samuel 13:13-14, 1 Chronicles 22:19, 2 Chronicles 7:14-15, Job 5:8-9, Psalm 9:10, Psalm 14:1-2, Psalm 40:16, Psalm 105:1-4, Psalm 119:1-11, Proverbs 8:17, Isaiah 55:6-9, Jeremiah 29:11-13, Lamentations 3:22-26, Amos 5:4, Zephaniah 2:1-3, Matthew 7:7-8, Luke 11:9-10, Acts 13:20-23, Acts 17:24-31, Colossians 3:1-2, Hebrews 11:6, James 4:6-10
In Times Like These 