A Prayer for Union with God

“One thing is needful.” Luke 10:42. “Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” 1 Cor. 1:30.

1. One thing’s needful; Lord, this only
   Teach me highly to regard;
   All else, though it first seem comely,
   Proves a yoke that presses hard.
   Beneath it the heart is still fretting and striving,
   No true, lasting happiness ever deriving.
   The gain of this one thing all loss can requite
   And teach me in all things to find true delight.

2. Soul, wilt thou this one thing find thee?
   Seek not midst created things;
   What is earthly leave behind thee,
   Over nature spread thy wings.
   For where God and man both in one are united,
   With God’s perfect fullness the heart is delighted;
   There, there is the worthiest lot and the best,
   My One and my All and my Joy and my Rest.

3. How were Mary’s thoughts devoted
   Her eternal joy to find
   As, intent, each word she noted
   And at Jesus’ feet reclined!
   How kindled her heart, how devout was its feeling,
   While hearing the lessons her Jesus revealing!
   In Jesus all things from her heart then were driv’n,
   And all things unto her in Jesus were giv’n.

4. Thus my longings, heav’nward tending,
   Jesus, rest alone on Thee.
   Help me, thus on Thee depending;
   Savior, come and dwell in me!
   Although all the world should forsake and forget Thee,
   In love will I follow Thee, nor will I quit Thee.
   Lord Jesus, both spirit and life is Thy Word;
   And is there a joy that Thou dost not afford?

5. Wisdom’s highest, noblest treasure,
   Jesus, lies concealed in Thee.
   Grant that this may still the measure
   Of my will and actions be,
   Humility, there, and simplicity reigning,
   In heavenly wisdom my steps ever training.
   Oh, if I of Jesus have knowledge divine,
   Then truly the fullness of wisdom is mine.

6. Naught have I my God to offer,
   Naught but Thee, my highest Good;
   Jesus, naught have I to proffer
   But Thy crimson-colored blood.
   The highest true righteousness I have acquired,
   Since Thou on the tree of the cross hast expired;
   The robe of salvation forever is mine,
   In this shall my faith through eternity shine.

7. Grant that this my soul may also
   In Thy likeness now awake.
   Thou, my Choice, alone dost hallow,
   Thou alone true saints dost make.
   Whatever I need for my journey to heaven,
   In Thee, O my Savior, is unto me given;
   O let me all perishing pleasure forego,
   And Thy life, O Jesus, alone let me know.

8. Where else should my hopes be centered?
   Grace o’erwhelms me with its flood.
   Thou, my Savior, once hast entered
   Holiest heaven through Thy blood,
   Eternal redemption for sinners there finding,
   From hell’s dark dominion my spirit unbinding,
   To me perfect freedom Thine entrance hath brought,
   And childlike to cry, “Abba, Father,” I’m taught.

9. Jesus, my Good Shepherd, feeds me,
   Peace and joy my spirit fill;
   In a pasture green He leads me
   Forth beside the waters still.
   Oh, naught to my soul is so sweet and reviving
   As thus unto Jesus alone to be living;
   Naught, naught but this only refreshment supplies,
   Through faith on Thee, Jesus, to fasten mine eyes.

10. Therefore, Jesus, my Salvation,
    Thou my One, my All, shalt be,
    Prove my fixed determination,
    Root out all hypocrisy.
    Look well if on sin’s slipp’ry paths I am hasting,
    And lead me, O Lord, on the way everlasting;
    This one thing is needful, all others are vain;
    I count all but loss that I Christ may obtain.

Eins ist not, ach Herr, dies eine
Johann Heinrich Schroeder, 1697
Tr. Frances E. Cox, alt.
Source: Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-Book, 1927, No. 83, alt.