The one thing I want from God, the thing I seek most of all, is the privilege of meditating in his Temple, living in his presence every day of my life, delighting in his incomparable perfections and glory. There I’ll be when troubles come. He will hide me. He will set me on a high rock out of reach of all my enemies. Then I will bring him sacrifices and sing his praises with much joy. [Psalm 27:4-6 (TLB)]
A recent television ad for insurance shows two women talking. One asks, “Did you know that genies can be really literal?” The scene shifts to a man polishing a small lamp while cleaning out his garage. In a puff of smoke, a genie appears and asks, “What is your wish?” The unsuspecting man’s reply is, “A million bucks!” Instantly, he is surrounded by an enormous herd of deer. This scenario reminded me of childhood discussions I had with friends. We’d debate about what we would request if, in an astonishing bit of luck, we discovered a magic lamp or managed to free a genie from a corked bottle. Of course, we decided the wisest wish would be for three more wishes, always being sure to ask for three more before using the last one.
David, however, had the right idea. Instead of desiring an unlimited number of wishes and treasure from God, he said the only thing he truly wanted was to be in God’s presence. If he remained in God’s presence, David knew that everything else would fall into place. He acknowledged that troubles would still come his way, but knew that, in God’s presence, he would remain untroubled by them. In God’s presence, David would experience joy; after all, isn’t joy what all of us want? We will never find joy in fame and fortune or presents from a genie; we will, however, find joy in the presence of God.
Trying to be happy without a sense of God’s presence is like trying to have a bright day without the sun. [A.W. Tozer]
Devotions of the Heart 