© 2019 Songs From Wellhouse; Integrity’s Hosanna! Music
| 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 and I Thy true son; Thou in me dwelling and I with Thee one. 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. Lord, You are more precious than silver. Lord, You are more costly than gold. Lord, You are more beautiful than diamonds, And nothing I desire compares with You. 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. |
The world is filled with distractions. Our eyes are drawn to our small screens in our pockets, our medium-sized screens at work, and our large screens at home. We are constantly fed information. The love of money has reoriented our goals in life. Friends and family demand our time. Extracurricular activities demand our weeknights and weekends. At the end of any given week, one could look back and see there is no flexibility in their schedule. And, if his priorities are not in right order, God cannot lead and be his prize.
The ancient hymn “Be Thou My Vision” offers a course correction, an aspiration. The worshiper declares to the Lord “Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart,” “Be Thou my Wisdom and Thou my true Word,” and “Thou mine inheritance now and always.” And Shane Barnard, the arranger of the hymn, adds Lynn DeShazo’s wonderful lyrics, which state the Lord’s prominence over earthly treasure, and “Nothing I desire compares with You.” In all ways, God is greater–He is greater than earthly paths (Psalm 16:8), He is greater than earthly wisdom (James 1:5), and He is greater than earthly treasure (Matthew 6:19–21).
Let me draw your attention to the final verse of the hymn: “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.” No matter what comes, let God be your great Vision–the one Who guides you through calm and storm, mountain and valley.
God our Vision, Wisdom, and Treasure, may we continually seek You above all earthly things. Help us to turn our eyes to You, and let the things of this earth grow strangely dim. Nothing that our flesh desires can compare, nor compete, with You. So, be our Guide and our Teacher, no matter what comes our way, for Your glory and our good. Amen.