Desire and Denial

“One thing have I desired 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 behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple” (Psalm 27:4).  “Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Mark 8:34). 

The one thing that I most desire

Is seeing Christ in all His beauty

And in His temple to inquire

To find how worship blends with duty.

The temple now that I explore,

Where Christ is reigning on His throne,

Is in my heart as I adore

And I commune with Him alone.

Alas, with sin I may defile

This temple where my Lord should reign,

When pride displaces self denial,

And self directed life is vain.

With every day there comes a choice

That will determine gain or loss. 

I need to heed my Savior’s voice:

Come follow Me!  Take up your cross!

My life is not so complicated

When I am ready to obey.

It’s only when I’ve hesitated,

I find that I have lost my way.

But then desire draws me back

To see this sweet simplicity:

In Jesus Christ there is no lack

Of grace and truth to make me free.

O Lord, come take Your rightful place

Within my heart enlarged for You!

Denying self, desiring grace,

At last Your beauty is in view!