Daven For What We Really Want

When Dovid HaMelech says : "Achas Sha'alti Me'es Hashem, Osa Avakesh" [ Tehillim 27:5 ] he is not only stating his request but is emphasizing it. We know that Dovid HaMelech is asking for the ability to reside in the house of Hashem all his days - why must he declare his request with emphasis ?

Sometimes when we ask for something - we don't necessarily want whatever it is we're asking for - we simply want an additional benefit that we'll get if we ask for this thing.

There is a story of one housewife who tells her friend that she can produce a magnificent dinner for two just by opening a can. The friend doesn't believe her and so she stays hidden away in a closet to watch the proceedings. When the husband gets home his wife sets before him the unappetizing contents of the can and he declares : "Canned beans again ?! Let's eat out !"
The beans were not the source of the fancy meal, just the cause that made it happen.

One can imagine that living in the House of Hashem is a wonderful experience - aside from the sublime pleasure that would permeate the place - there is of course the security of knowing that you are beyond harm's reach.

This is why Dovid Hamelech must emphasize his request - "Osa avakesh" - This is my request - because one might think that he ( and we, when we pray with his words ) simply wanted to be close to G-d for the side benefits it offers. However the emphasis tells us that the desire to be close to Hashem here is pure, wholly for the sake of serving Hashem, nothing else.

So when we petition G-d with these words daily - we should have kavanna for purity of focus and a sincere desire to be closer to Hashem. Le'maan sh'mo.

Hatzlacha !