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\u201cOne 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\u201d (Psalm 27:4).

Here\u2019s a story I\u2019ve told before on Wilderness Wanderings. One day while Stuart Sacks was serving as a Christian Missionary in Paraguay, a Maka Indian named Rafael came to sit on his porch. Stuart went out to see what he wanted. Rafael responded, "Ham, henek met." Again, Stuart asked what he could do for him, but the answer was the same. Stuart understood what he was saying but not its significance: "I don't want anything; I have just come near."

Later Stuart shared the incident with a local veteran missionary. He explained that it was Rafael's way of honouring him. "He really didn't want anything; he just wanted to sit on your porch. He found satisfaction and pleasure just being near you."

This is David's desire in Psalm 27. It is not that he wanted to give up being shepherd or king and become a monk. David knew that no one was allowed inside the holy of holies in the temple. That was the place God dwelt among his people and only the high priest was allowed in there, and him, only once a year after lots of preparation.

But the tabernacle stood for God's presence. David wanted the pleasure and protection of unbroken communion with God in His house. What is our ambition in life today? Is it to get rich? Is it to make a name for ourselves? Is it to do some wonderful thing for God? The highest desire that can possess any human heart is a longing to see God.

Jesus taught us that there would be a day when we could experience that reality. It came with Him. God has no address on this earth. The universe is His and He is everywhere. We live in the presence of God all the time, even if we forget. Through the Holy Spirit, Jesus is with us wherever we are.

I think that David desires more than just to be in the presence of God. He wants to gaze on his beauty and to seek him. Like many other psalms, this one comes from a place of trial and tribulation. Enemies are surrounding him; it is easy to be afraid. Our world is not a safe place either. Jesus tells us not to worry. The solution for worry is to look at our heavenly Father. Trust in God is built by paying attention to him.

The most challenging words in this psalm are the little three letter ones, "one," and "all." "One thing, only one, I have asked from the Lord," David says. "I am no double minded man. I don't want to love God and love the world too. If the Lord will grant this one request, then he may deny me everything else and I will still be happy. I am single minded in my longing."

Rich Mullins left us this prayer: "Save us from those things that might distract us. Please take them away and purify our hearts. We don't want to lose the eternal for the things that are passing. What will we have when the world is gone, if it isn't for the love that goes on and on with our one thing? You're our one thing. The pure in heart shall see God" (My One Thing).

It is good to be near God. May "Ham, henek met" be the desire of our hearts! But also, this, \u201cLet us keep looking to Jesus. He is the one who started this journey of faith. And he is the one who completes the journey of faith\u2026\u201d (Hebrews 12:2).

What one thing can you do to see God more clearly? Practice looking at him when all is well. That way, when troubles come, it will be natural to turn towards him, to sit in his presence, and receive his peace.