One Thing I Ask....

Helms Deep..... (If you know what this is, just enjoy a private moment of nerdiness to yourself right now ; )

It is the fortified retreat of the horsemen in Lord of the Rings. It is a fortified sight for the purpose of retreat in times of war and emergency. It is cut right out of the side of a mountain. The vision of this refuge popped into my mind this morning as I read Psalm 27:

Psalm 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid?

The stronghold of my life? What a vision for my walk with God. I will retreat to the safety of my God. Behind His walls, no enemy will find me. I can hide in His care and rest assured that I will not be taken captive by the evil one. This is the place I wish to remain all the days of my life.

If you could ask God for anything you wanted, what would you ask for? Certainly, you have thought of God as a genie in a bottle at some point in your life. We have all fantasized about that one overriding wish granted in our life that would make everything O.K.- I thought about the things I could ask for:

1. The world to be saved. Every person on earth inheriting the kingdom and going to heaven!- This seems like a noble request, though Jesus said that we were entering through a narrow gate and only a few would find it. This is what I want, and I know God wants all to have to opportunity...

Matthew 7:13-14 13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

2. To Gain Wisdom for Leadership and Governance- Solomon was one of those who actually had the opportunity to answer this question-

1 Kings 3:5-10 5 At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you." 6 Solomon answered, "You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day. 7 "Now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?" 10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this.

This seems like a noble request for a leader to ask. It really should be every leaders prayer. Nothing wrong with this one. -

I love the request the Psalmist makes of the LORD:

Psalm 27:4 4 One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: 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 seek him in his temple.

Dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life.... to gaze upon His beauty. This is the hope for the future of my spiritual life. To always aim my mind, heart, soul and body in the direction of the LORD. This is discipleship and spiritual formation.