Day 9: Ask to Behold His Beauty

Come Before Him in Worship: Take a few moments to still your heart before the Lord. Surrender the hurry and worry of the day as you turn your gaze on Him. Imagine the Father’s smile as He looks at you and receive His pleasure over you as His beloved child. Meditate on His character and on His glory and majesty that we read about in Scripture and praise Him for who He is. He alone is worthy!

“One thing have I asked 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 gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.” Psalm 27:4

Devotion: David wrote this Psalm in the midst of great turmoil. In the verses just before this statement, he speaks of evil-doers, adversaries and foes, and then states that his confidence is in the Lord, “though an army encamp against me.” Yet, he doesn’t ask for deliverance, safety or victory. The “one (and only) thing” that he asks is to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of his life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to hear from Him.

David understood that, no matter his circumstances, the Lord was his safety and his hiding place (vs 5). To gaze upon His beauty, is to remind himself of the faithfulness, holiness, power, and goodness (Zech 9:17) of the Lord, who holds and loves His people. In Luke 10, Jesus says to Martha, who was upset that her sister, Mary, was not helping her serve and host Jesus and His disciples, “you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary (who was sitting at the feet of Jesus being with Him and listening to Him) has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her” (vs 41-42).

To sit at His feet, beholding His greatness and glory, listening for His direction, is the place to start each day. From that posture, we can enter our day, and rise above all that would distract or trouble us. If we keep His presence, power and love before us throughout the day, we can trust that, not only will we experience the fullness of His presence, but we will be transformed ever-increasingly into His image, from one degree of glory to another (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Respond in Prayer: Show me Your beauty today, Lord! No matter what my circumstances may look like today, keep my gaze fixed on Your face. What are the areas of my life where I have looked to someone or something else for answers, comfort, or deliverance? I repent for looking for others to satisfy the desires of my heart that You alone can fulfill. May Your radiant splendor captivate my heart afresh today, my King!