“Be Thou My Vision” (ELW 793)
Devotion
Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
naught be all else to me, save that thou art:
thou my best thought both by day and 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 soul's shelter, and thou my high tow'r,
raise thou me heav'nward, O Pow'r of my pow'r.
Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise,
thou mine inheritance, now and always:
thou and thou only, the first in my heart,
great God of heaven, my treasure thou art.
Light of my soul, after victory won,
may I reach heaven's joys, O heaven's Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
still be my vision, O Ruler of all.
Do you recall the start of a new relationship? Remember that phase of feeling giddy and twitter pated, when you can't help but smile when you think of that person—a thought that springs to mind frequently? You can't wait to spend time with them and talk with them about everything and nothing.
Has your relationship with God ever been like that? Imagine the joy of renewing your faith in God such that you are eager to spend time with God and tell God all about your day. The hymn Be Thou My Vision gives us some words to express this longing for God. "Thou and thou only, first in my heart." With these words the hymn helps us sing of our yearning to have God at the center of life. We can sing of our joy at this relationship with a loving God, singing about the joy of an exciting relationship with one who never leaves our side.
Prayer
God, help me to make you the center of my life. Be my vision throughout my life. Amen.