If We Had One Wish….

Imagine this: A genie pops out of a bottle (yes, I know, we’re not supposed to believe in genies, but stick with me). He tells you that you can have one wish, just one, and it will be granted immediately.

What would you ask for? Would it be something extravagant, like endless wealth or world peace? Or maybe something more personal, like excellent health for yourself or a loved one?

Now, let’s bring it back to reality. God’s plan is always better than our wish lists. When we truly live in His presence — when our thoughts, prayers, and beliefs are centered on Him — we start to see things differently. Suddenly, our prayers shift from “Lord, fix this!” to “Lord, what’s Your will in this?”

King David’s wish (or ask) went like this: “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.” (Psalm 27:4)

I am drawn to the “one thing” David asked of God — to dwell in His house forever. More than anything, David longed to be in God’s presence. No wonder he was called “a man after God’s own heart.”

The more time we spend in God’s presence, the more our desires align with His. Our “one wish” turns into a deep desire to walk in step with His plan. It’s in this space that we find peace, knowing that He’s already working everything out for our good, even when it doesn’t look like it.

In God’s presence, we find out what to do, where to go and even what to say. “In His presence” is the answer for everything. That is “my wish” and my prayer today, that our hearts will be filled with this one thing . . . a desire to dwell in His presence.

Living in that “practicing His presence” mode creates plenty of opportunities for God to show up and show out. No, He is NOT a genie or fairy godmother, but He is the God in WHOM all things are possible. What better place to be than in His presence?

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11