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. — Psalms 27:4

Life can get downright chaotic. Bills pile up, folks let you down, and the world seems to spin faster than we can keep up. We chase after so many things—money, success, approval—thinking they’ll bring us peace. But David, in all his wisdom, boiled it down to one thing: being in the presence of God.

Now, I don’t know about you, but I’ve chased a lot of things in my life that turned out to be dead ends. That new car smell fades, applause dies down, and even the best steak dinner leaves you hungry again. But God? He never runs out, never fades, never lets you down.

David said he wanted to “dwell” in God’s house, not just visit. That’s the difference. Some folks pop into church when things get rough, hoping for a quick fix. But real peace—real joy—comes when we make God’s presence our permanent address, not just a weekend retreat.

So today, let’s stop running after things that don’t last and start seeking the One who does. Because when we make God our priority, everything else falls into place.

I heard a fella say once, “I’ll forgive, but I won’t forget.” Now, I understand where he’s coming from, but if we’re being honest, that ain’t real mercy. That’s just keeping score with a smile on your face.

Jesus said in Luke 6:36, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Now, that’s a tall order, because God’s mercy is deeper than the ocean and wider than the sky. But He calls us to it because mercy isn’t just something we receive—it’s something we’re supposed to give away like it’s going out of style.

Mercy means loving people when they don’t deserve it. It means cutting folks some slack even when they’ve made a mess of things. It means looking at somebody who’s hurt you and saying, “I’m gonna let God handle this instead of carrying it around like a sack of rocks.”

Truth is, we’ve all needed mercy more times than we can count. And if God, who knows every mistake we’ve made, still pours it out on us, then surely we can pass a little along. So today, let’s be merciful—not just because folks need it, but because we do too. And when in doubt, just remember: if God had a limit on mercy, none of us would have made it this far.

You ever been in one of those situations where you didn’t have the slightest idea what to do? Like standing in the middle of the grocery store, staring at 47 different kinds of peanut butter, wondering if creamy or crunchy is the right choice for the meaning of life?

James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” In other words, God ain’t stingy with wisdom. He’s not sitting up there, rubbing His hands together, saying, “Well, let’s see if they can figure this one out on their own.” No, He’s ready and willing to pour it out—you just have to ask.

Problem is, we often don’t ask. We try to Google our way through life, phone a friend, or just fake it and hope nobody notices we’re lost. But real wisdom—the kind that won’t steer you wrong—comes from God. And the good news? He doesn’t roll His eyes or shake His head when we come to Him for the hundredth time. He just says, “Here, take all you need.”

So next time you’re stuck, whether it’s a big life decision or just trying to pick the right peanut butter, don’t stress. Just ask. God’s got more wisdom than we’ve got problems, and He’s more than happy to share.