Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
3 19 2025

Audio Version

The Power of Lingering in God’s Presence

“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 and to inquire in his temple.” – Psalm 27:4

This verse reads like a prayer—an unshakable longing of the soul.

Do you wake up desiring to live in God’s presence? Even amid the plans of your day, do you yearn for His guidance, to discover fresh spiritual insight beyond your set agenda?

“One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after…”
When does that seeking begin for you? How often do you tell your spouse you love them? Do they ever tire of hearing it? How much more does Christ long to hear your words of adoration and commitment?

Yet, too many treat God like the old farmer who told his wife on their 10th anniversary, “I told you I love you when we got married, and if anything changes, I’ll let you know.”

How easy it is to get distracted, to become too self-absorbed or busy to truly put God first.

“That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life.”

How deep is your longing to dwell with Him—not just visit, but abide? What draws you to linger in a place? A breathtaking mountain view? A roaring waterfall? A sunset? The beauty of your beloved?

But lingering in God’s presence is more than admiration—it is transformation. It is where we receive guidance, wisdom, and strength. We strategize for business success, yet how often do we seek the Holy Spirit’s direction for our personal lives?

What about strength for the journey and peace in the battle? Where is the spirit of humility that leads us to sit at the feet of the Master, to listen to His wisdom and hear His voice?

“To gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.”

What consumes your seeking? Success? Health? Comfort? How often does the beauty of the Lord make your top five priorities?

To seek His beauty is to grow in faith—believing again that He is with us, that He will never forsake us, no matter the trials. It is the faith that steadies us when circumstances threaten to harpoon our trust in Him. Faith to rest in the shelter of the Almighty, secure on the Rock of Ages—Jesus.

Who can snatch you from His hand?

“My sheep hear my voice… no one will snatch them out of my hand.” – John 10:27
“From eternity to eternity I am God. No one can snatch anyone out of my hand.” – Isaiah 43:13

From eternity to eternity—He is God. Can you just let that settle in a little?

When was the last time humility overwhelmed you simply because of who He is? Moses couldn’t glimpse the backside of God without being changed. We, too, are transformed when we behold Him. Scripture says we are changed from glory to glory.

Doesn’t humility remind us of the infinite gap between ourselves and God?

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways… As high as the heavens are above the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways.” – Isaiah 55:8-9

A Template for Living

Psalm 27:4 is more than a prayer; it is a way of life. It calls us to praise Him, even in hardship, to set our focus on the eternal, rather than the temporary.

Shouldn’t we be enjoying the scenery while we journey through this life—rather than getting caught up in the details? After all, as the saying goes, the devil is in the details.

But God… God is in the beauty.

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You deserve the glory.