Music

You're My One Thing

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Song Story

In 2004, I met a worship leader from the International House of Prayer and asked her to pray for me. As we talked, she mentioned that there are three main places in the Bible that talk about “one thing.” I went home and studied those passages and later taught about it at my youth group. A week or so after I brought this teaching, I sat down with my guitar to worship. An hour and a half later, “You’re My One Thing” was finished. I felt like God dropped this one in my lap. The message of this song has become a life calling. It has carried me through a lot.

The first passage this song comes from is Psalm 27:4. “One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple” (NIV).

The second passage is found when Jesus was hanging out at the home of Lazarus, Martha and Mary. While Martha was busy making preparations, Mary sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to His voice. When Martha complained about her sister, “the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her’” (Luke 10:41-42).

The final passage was uttered by Paul in Philippians 3:13-14, where he says, “one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

I leave you with these questions. What is your “one thing”? Who is your “one thing”? Will it last? Can you lose it? Mary chose what is better—and it will not be taken away from her. What do you choose? Choose Jesus. “For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter; in the secret place of His tent will He hide me; He will set me high upon a rock” (Psalm 27:5, Amplified Bible).

Lyrics

You're My One Thing
Words and music by John Gabriel Arends

One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all my days
To gaze upon Your beauty
To break through to You in Your temple

You and You alone is what I seek
You’re my one thing
You and You alone is what I seek
You’re my one thing

When I am tempted to divert my eyes from You
When the distractions try to take my thoughts from You
That’s when you say, “My love,
Only one thing is needed; come to me”

When the past calls my name
This one thing I do, I cast off the shame
I press on to the prize
That day when I will
Look into Your eyes