Daily Archives: September 8, 2008

I miss hymns. They have such depth and beauty! Rather than singing the same simple phrase over and over for five minutes, they proclaim doctrinal truths and really get to the heart of the issue. Don’t get me wrong — I love choruses and contemporary worship songs, too, but sometimes I really miss hymns.

One of my favorite hymns is “Be Thou My Vision.” We had a good friend play it during our wedding. It was my greatest prayer then and it is my greatest prayer now. I don’t know the history of it; just that it’s Irish and there is some dispute over how old it is and who wrote it. Since my thoughts today are on this, I thought I would share the words with you as well.

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, Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee, 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 my 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 heav’ns Son!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my vision, O ruler of all.