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Does anyone remember our verse for this week?

It is Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God.”

So far, we have repeated it and written it. Today, we are going to do something extra creative. Today we are going to put our verse to music and make it into a song! If you remember back on Monday this week, we talked about how the Psalms were often songs, so it makes perfect sense to make our verse for this week into a song.

There is no right or wrong way to do this, use an instrument if you want, clap your hands to keep a beat, or just sing in whatever style you wish. After you’ve formed your song, make sure to share with the rest of your family. Parents, Grandparents, babysitters, older siblings, don’t be shy, you can get in on the fun too! Share your musical talent and decide who’s song is the most catchy all while storing God’s word in our heart!

“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

Look at these lyrics from the song “Fall Like Rain” by Kari Jobe: 

“One thing I ask, one thing I seek 

So much more than anything 

To dwell within your house for all my days.

Knowing you is everything

I let go of lesser things

You alone are worthy of my praise

So, stir in me a passion for your name.”

What would it look like for you to seek Jesus more than anything else? Sometimes following Jesus means laying down things that the world says are important. That could be social media, friends, TV shows, or even YouTubers that we watch. Chances are if it’s causing you to spend a lot of time distracted from seeking Jesus, it isn’t spiritually healthy for you.

Jesus and His beauty are all around us. It’s in our everyday lives, it’s in the biggest moments of success and joy, and it’s even in the hardest situations we face. We just have to be open to seeing Him in every moment. The hard part is being still long enough to see His beauty. Maybe you sit on your porch to watch the sunset in the quiet. Maybe you turn off your phone, or TV, or computer for a set time each day to quiet the noise. Maybe you have a group text with friends or family to share how you saw Him that day. The truth is, Jesus’ beauty shines through our world more than we are aware and we have to be intentionally looking for it.

Think back to the lyrics of the song above, describe what you think of when you hear “the house of the Lord”. What does it look like? What do you feel? 

What are some distractions that you can try to limit this week to focus more on seeing Jesus around you? 

"May we find contentment not in our doing, but in Your presence alone."

Psalm 27:4 (NIV) 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.

In a world that often measures worth by productivity, the idea of experiencing contentment in mere presence can seem counterintuitive. We're conditioned to believe that our value lies in what we accomplish, in the tangible results of our efforts. Even in our spiritual lives, we can fall into the trap of "doing" - praying more, serving more, striving for an elusive ideal of spiritual perfection. But what if true contentment doesn’t reside in what we do but in simply being with God? What if the secret to a fulfilling life isn't in accomplishing more but in carving out moments to rest in God's presence? The heart of the Advent message invites us into a radical reorientation. It whispers of a contentment that isn't earned but received, a fulfillment felt not in frantic activity but in quiet presence.

Imagine a small child sitting in their parent's lap. The child isn't doing anything productive or impressive. They're merely being held, enjoying the warmth and security of their parent's embrace. This is the kind of contentment God invites us into - a contentment that comes from knowing we are held, loved, and delighted in, not because of what we do, but because we are His.  

To find contentment in God's presence is to rediscover our truest identity. It's a remembering that before we were doers, achievers, or producers, we were beloved. It's an acceptance that our worth isn't something we earn through our efforts, but something intrinsic to our being as children of God. Contentment in God's presence doesn't mean we stop doing things, but rather  recognizing that our doing flows from a different place - not from a need to prove our worth or earn God's love, but from the overflow of a heart that is at rest in God's presence. 

This Advent season offers us a unique opportunity to practice this kind of presence-centered living. As we wait for the celebration of Christ's birth and anticipate His eventual return, we're invited to slow down, to set aside our endless to-do lists, and to simply be with God - to seek His presence above all else. As we learn to find our contentment in God's presence, our perspective on life begins to shift. Things that once seemed urgently important lose their grip on us. We’re less driven by fear, comparison, or the need for approval. Instead, a deep well of peace and joy has the power to sustain us even in difficult circumstances. This contentment in God's presence is what the psalmist speaks of when he says that the one thing he seeks is to dwell in God's house, to gaze upon His beauty. It's a contentment that goes beyond fleeting happiness based on circumstances. It's a settled satisfaction of the soul that comes from knowing we are loved, we belong, and we are held securely in God's hands.

Take a moment to reread today’s Scripture passage and then spend some time reflecting on the following question:

Psalm 27:4 (NIV) 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. 

• How might your perspective shift if you viewed your worth through the lens of God's presence rather than your own productivity?