Today, we are on psalm 27 and it is clear that David had a lot of concerns. While many of his concerns were very different from the ones we face, we can certainly relate to David on this point. Especially in this time of year, I’m sure each of us has a full plate that seems to keep on getting bigger.

In this psalm, David highlights one primary prayer request that stands head and shoulders above the rest. I would encourage you to follow the link above and read the entire psalm, but I want to specifically highlight this one prayer request.

He said, “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.”

Of all the many worries, fears, concerns and responsibilities that David had, it is extremely insightful to see what his biggest priority was…his relationship with God. You might even say that this was his only priority. As a pastor, I’m well acquainted with the typical concerns of all different kinds of people. We all have plenty to occupy our minds with and a lot of it is very important. David is giving us a key insight, here. He is telling us that if we’ll prioritize our relationship with God above all else, God will take care of the rest.

So how does this look practically? I’m glad you asked. There is no magic formula to this, but I do have some ideas.

1. Prioritize him in your schedule

Take time every day to spend with him. Not just when you’re on the run and doing all kinds of things, but make sure you spend some quality time as well. Read the Bible, pray and just get quiet. If I told you guys that I prioritize my wife but that we never spent time together, you’d look at me like I was nuts and rightly so. Same deal with God.

2. Prioritize him in your checkbook 

Our bank accounts are a great indicator as to where our priorities lie. As Jesus said in Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Are you tithing? Are you giving to causes that are bigger than yourself? This topic is very important and especially in a time of year that is characterized by consumerism gone mad.

3. Prioritize him in your relationships

Do you have friendships that are centered around relationship with God? Do you at least have a couple people in your life that you can talk about your spirituality with? People that will pray for you and hold you accountable to what God is up to in your life? Proverbs 13:20 says, “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” If you don’t have any relationships in your life that challenge you spiritually, your internal growth will be severely stunted.

“One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek…” You don’t have to be a Bible scholar to know that David had a lot going on. I don’t know what was happening in his life when he wrote this psalm, but I would say that David was successful by most measurements. David had more responsibility than most of us put together which means that we don’t have any excuses. David is showing us a pattern for life. Prioritize God and he will take care of the rest. This is also affirmed in other places in scripture such as, Matthew 6:25-34 and Psalm 1. Both passages proclaim the truth that as we focus our energy on pursuing and following Christ, he will see to it that the rest is taken care of. Do you trust him?