What Would You Ask of Your Genie?

These days I do a lot of reminiscing. I’m not looking in a rear-view mirror to pine away at the memories of the past. I go back in time to cherish the sweetest times when God proved His faithfulness time and again.

While our precious family from Canada has been here, we did some of that. Sher kept pulling out “blasts-from-the-past” photos – treasured times together as family. I remembered how my husband and our two children took a great leap of faith to move to Canada in 1986. When we arrived in Winnipeg, with all of our earthly goods, we literally had no place to live.

Uncle Buddy and Aunt Bonnie graciously opened their home to us – us four and Staci’s Westie, Alex. Uncle and aunt weren’t dog lovers, but that changed with Alex. Several weeks later we found the most beautiful home, with the family enjoying a “giving of thanks” meal in our living room. The graciousness of God.

This visit to us here in Austin has been more about the future. Great expectations of the fulfillment of dreams coming true. What goes around, comes around.

I remember overhearing a conversation some time ago between my two youngest grandsons. Brennan, asked his younger brother, Bryson, “If you had a genie in a bottle, what would you wish for?” They earned love tokens when they both said: “For Nana to live with us forever!”

It wasn’t a genie, but our GREAT God Who brought that one to pass. I’m here and every day I consider the sweetness of that being so. So many perks – like yesterday getting to attend my grandson’s first chapel service as a High School Senior — pictured here.

That little “genie” conversation and memory back when makes me think about what I would ask for today if a genie OR God showed up to grant me one wish, or one answered prayer. 

What would YOU ask for? No doubt, our answers would vary: More time in the day? A healed body? A restored relationship? A financial breakthrough? A child? A spouse? Strength to make it through this day? A dream vacation? World peace?

King David’s son, Solomon, was asked by God what one thing He could grant him. King Solomon responded: “wisdom to lead God’s people.” God liked that response because He gave him a wise and discerning mind. And Solomon became known as the wisest man in all of Israel. People from far and wide came to him for his wisdom. (1 Kings 3)

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.” David experienced many highs and lows in his life, but I think his life’s theme was the longing to be in God’s presence.

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.

To live daily practicing His presence 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