Rich Mullins - My One Thing

I can't find this song on YouTube so I'll just have the lyrics today.



Everybody I know says they need just one thing

And what they really mean is that they need just one thing more

And everybody seems to think they've got it coming

Well I know that I don't deserve You

Still I want to love and serve You more and more

You're my one thing

Save me from those things that might distract me

Please take them away and purify my heart

I don't want to lose the eternal for the things that are passing

'Cause what will I have when the world is gone

If it isn't for the love that goes on and on with My one thing


You're my one thing

And the pure in heart shall see God

You're my one thing

You're my one thing

And the pure in heart shall see God


Who have I in Heaven but You Jesus?

And what better could I hope to find down here on earth?

I could cross the most distant reaches

Of this world, but I'd just be wasting my time '

Cause I'm certain already, I'm sure I'd find


You're my one thing (one thing)

You're my one thing (one thing)

And the pure in heart shall see God

You're my one thing (one thing)

You're my one thing (one thing)

And the pure in heart shall see God


Every night and every day

You hold on tight

Or you drift away

And you're left to live

With the choices you make


Oh Lord please give me the strength

To watch and work and love and sing and pray

'Cause who have I in Heaven but You Jesus?

And what better could I hope to find down here on earth?

Well I could cross the most distant reaches

Of this world, but I'd just be wasting my time

'Cause I'm certain already I'm sure I'd find


You're my one thing (one thing)

You're my one thing (one thing)

And the pure in heart shall see God

You're my one thing (one thing)

You're my one thing (one thing)

And the pure in heart shall see God

You're my one thing One thing

You're my one thing

The pure in heart, the pure in heart

One thing

And I know that the pure

That the pure in heart (that the pure in heart shall see God)

And I know that the pure in heart shall see God

And I know that the pure That the pure in heart (that the pure in heart shall see God)

And I know that the pure in heart shall see God

And I know that the pure

That the pure in heart (that the pure in heart shall see God)

And I know that the pure in heart shall see God

That the pure in heart (that the pure in heart shall see God) And I know that the pure in heart shall see God
Matthew 5:8, Psalm 73:23-28

This song is an admonition for us to pursue simplicity. When everything around us is saying that we need just "one thing more", we must remember that the ONLY thing we ever need is Jesus. Every activity, every thought, everything in my life must point to Jesus. Richard Foster is one of my favorite authors and he has written an entire book called the Freedom of Simplicity. He, very correctly, makes the point that there is tremendous freedom in doing only what Jesus calls us to do. I have been thinking much about simplicity in the last few years. With my illness, I don't have the time to do everything like I used to be able to do. I can't be the perfect wife, mother, and doctor. In fact, I can't even do housework, make dinner, and teach the kids all in one day. But, Rich's music reminds me that I need to concentrate on "one thing" - Jesus. And it all falls into place after that.