Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
This hymn means so much to me.
Looking back on the various trials that I’ve gone through, this hymn has been a constant companion. When situations are grim and tough, the richness of the hymn brings me back to my position in Christ. Somehow it expresses my deepest and most heartfelt convictions. I would love to have this hymn sung at my own memorial service..
Father,
Thank you for the richness of hymns as such. Its easy for me to sway away, be bought over by temporal glitter and riches of this world. So easy for me to get disheartened, for me to lose heart in times of trouble. But my prayer is that You be my Vision, ever be my Vision. Capture my heart, O Lord of my heart. Amen.
