What Is Your Greatest Desire?

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April 29, 2024



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.



What Is Your Greatest Desire?


I wonder what your answer would be to the question, ‘What is your greatest desire?’ Your first answer might not be to have a better relational connection with a specific person, but it is likely to be in your top 5. We are wired to desire relational connection, and it turns out God’s greatest desire is to have a close, loving relationship with us.

David wrote Psalm 27:4  that more than anything else, he wanted a relationship with God that meant he could behold the beauty of the Lord. The word behold here means more than just looking at someone. It means to give your full attention to experiencing and understanding the wonder of the person or thing that has caught your gaze.

Most of the other places where the word behold appears in the Bible are invitations from God, to experience something of who He is as a loving Father, a saving friend or an empowering spirit. Take as an example Revelation 21:3

3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with humankind, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.

Or Consider Psalm Psalm 33:18

18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him,
On those who hope in His mercy. . . .

Or the Birth announcement of Jesus in which angels appear to shepherds and say

“Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. Luke 2:10

Today in Psalm 27 we are invited to join David, to take time, even a moment, to enter a space in our day where nothing matters more than being in God’s presence.

What if today before we start asking in prayer for guidance, or we start praying through our prayer list, we were to let our gaze rest on the sky, or the impact of yesterday’s rain on the grass, shrubs and tulips, or something in your field of vision that might remind you of God, our loving Creator. Let's pause and behold the love God has for us and breathe deeply in gratitude.


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