Be Thou My Vision, ELW 793
1 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.
2 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.
3 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.
4 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.
Devotion
The words to this hymn capture the essence of our spiritual journey. Nothing can compare with the life spent with Christ as Lord. All that we have and all that we are comes from Christ. The “vision” that we desire comes from the heart, not from the eyes. What beautiful imagery in the words “Heart of my own heart.” It is the Heart within our heart, the Spirit of Christ, who works within us to bring us to deep humility and sacrifice. Perhaps humility and sacrifice is what is most lacking in our culture today. In this hymn we are reminded of the joy, hope, and love that surround us when we live with humility and sacrifice for Christ’s sake.
Prayer
Light of our souls, help us to treasure You above all else. Amen.