Advent - wish lists - 8 December 2008

Younger children seem to have no problem with producing a list of things they’re desperate for each Christmas and then they get more excited as Christmas draws near, sure they’ll get at least some of them.  As we get older for many of us we already have so much and the wish list seems harder to generate.

David’s wish list was very short:

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek

              that I may dwell in the house of the Lord

                        all the days of my life;

                  to behold the beauty of the Lord

                    and to seek Him in His temple.    Psalm 27:4 [NIV]

I wonder where dwelling in God’s house comes on our wish lists and what it means to us.  I’ve recently been on a pre-advent retreat where daily we read this scripture and then used a series of responses to help us meditate on it.  I offer them to you now:

Who is it that you seek?

We seek the Lord our God.

Do you seek Him with all your heart?

Amen. Lord, have mercy.

Do you seek Him with all your soul?

Amen. Lord, have mercy.

Do you seek Him with all your mind?

Amen. Lord, have mercy.

Do you seek Him with all your strength?

Amen. Lord, have mercy.

For me the response reflects where I’m at; yes I want to seek the Lord in this way but so frequently don’t quite make it.  Happily, it is God’s nature to always have mercy.

Why not pray this every day this week as you consider who/what it is you’re really seeking this advent?

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you”, says the Lord.   Jeremiah 29: 13 & 14 [NIV]