by Paul David Tripp
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.
Psalm 27:4

Let’s continue in Psalm 27:2–4:
When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise against me, yet I will be confident. One thing have I asked of the LORD, and 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.
Put yourself in this situation. If you actually had an army encamping against you, what would the one thing be that you would ask of the Lord? Think about that. How about weapons? How about asking God to just incinerate them? But look at what David actually said in this dark situation: “One thing have I asked of the LORD … that I may dwell in the house of the LORD … to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD.” Now, either David was so super-spiritual that none of us can relate to him, or he was onto something wonderful here.
David knew Someone exists who is of such awesome, gorgeous, glorious beauty that He is way more beautiful than any ugly thing David would ever face in his life. Furthermore, he knew grace had connected him to this beauty.
None of the things that get you down is ultimate. God’s beauty is ultimate. You must look at yourself through the lens of the gorgeous, glorious beauty of the grace of the One who is light, life, salvation, and refuge, because it is only then that your heart will find rest.

Thought to Remember for Today

Let me encourage you to gaze; to start each day with your Bible and do nothing but gaze upon the beauty of the Lord. The Lord is my light. The Lord is my salvation. The Lord is my stronghold. Now, hear the rhetorical question, “Of whom should I be afraid?” What’s the answer? No one, nothing.

Fitzpatrick, E. (2016). Grace untamed: a 60-day devotional. Colorado Springs, CO: David C Cook.