I was recently at a Saturday evening gathering at a moderately-sized church in the greater Columbus, Ohio area. Speaking, were two representatives from the International House of Prayer (IHOP) in Kansas City, Missouri. They spoke, at length, on a famous passage of scripture,
"ONE THING have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple" (Psalm 27:4).
I have rehearsed that chapter for the past decade or so. Sure, it blessed me beyond measure and provided solace in times of trouble. Psalm 27, along with Psalms 23, 91, 121, 124...(you get the idea), was an important weapon in an arsenal against many-a-battles of life. As my walk with the Lord progressed, a common theme began to materialize: I am to pursue His heart, not His hand; the beauty of His face, not the things He could do for me.
An interesting two-fold paradox ensues. [1] It is when I get lost in His presence, [only then] can I truly find myself. Or, is it that when I get lost in His presence...that step of faith, that pursuit, allows Him to find me. [2] It is when I become totally captivated by His gaze, [only then] can I truly see myself.
Allow me to paint a picture for you. Imagine staring someone ever so intently into their eyes. What do you see? Of course, you'll see some of the fine details of the eye, like the iris, lens, pupil, and conjunctiva (lol). But, a more comprehensive look reveals the reflection of YOUR face. Your image in the reflection of His gaze is who you truly are.
A total shift of attention from yourself to seeking the very person and presence of God is "where it's at." This is when the ONE THING becomes the ONE AND ONLY THING.
...to be continued
