Kierkegaard: That we might will one thing

THAT WE MIGHT WILL ONE THING

Father in heaven! What are we without Thee!
What is all that we know, vast accumulation though it be, but a chipped fragment if we do not know Thee!
What is all our striving, even if it could encompass a world, but a half-finished work if we do not know Thee: Thee the One, who art one thing and who art all!
So may Thou give to our intellect, wisdom to comprehend that one thing; to our heart, sincerity to receive this understanding; to our will, purity that wills only one thing.
In prosperity may Thou grant perseverance to will one thing; amid distractions, collectedness to will one thing; in suffering, patience to will one thing!
Oh, Thou that giveth both the beginning and the completion, may Thou early, at the dawn of day, give us the resolution to will one thing. As the day wanes, may Thou give us a renewed remembrance of our first resolution...that we may live a life that has willed the one thing.

BUT WE HAVE NOT WILLED ONE THING

Alas, but this has indeed not come to pass. Something has come in between.
The separation of sin lies in between. Each day, and day after day something is being placed in between: delay, blockage, interruption, delusion, corruption.
So in this time of repentance may Thou give the courage once again to will one thing.
True, it is an interruption of our ordinary tasks; we do lay down our work as though it were a day of rest, when the penitent (and it is only in a time of repentance that the heavy-laden worker may be quiet in the confession of sin) is alone before Thee in self-accusation.
This is indeed an interruption.
But it is an interruption that searches back into its very beginnings that it might bind up anew that which sin has separated, that in its grief it might atone for lost time, that in its anxiety it might bring to completion that which lies before it.

GIVE THOU THE VICTORY IN THE DAY OF NEED

Oh, Thou that givest both the beginning and the completion,
Give Thou victory in the day of our need...
So that what neither our best action, nor determination, nor resolution may attain,
May be granted unto us in the sorrowing of repentance: to will only one thing!

O Strong Son of God! Grant this for Thy name's sake, for Thy mercy's sake, O Lord!

Create in us a clean heart, unite our hearts to fear Thy name! That we might will this one thing, for Thee, our loving Lord and King, Amen!

Alleluia!

Philippians 1:5-7 -- "For I am confident of this very thing: that He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus."