Be Thou My Vision

It's no secret that I love hymns. The words are always filled with such heart and soul.

They move me.
They inspire me.
They convict me.
They encourage me.

"A hymn is a traditional song of praise or worship written to God." "...traditional hymns continue to move (me) with profound words and beautiful music that engage (my) mind and lift (my) heart to heaven." (quoted from "Who is God?" by John Hay and David Webb, pg. 95. Words in parenthesis are mine)

There has been a hymn going through my head now for a few weeks since we sang it in church.

You see, a lot of exciting things have been happening in my life lately and I have such fun looking ahead. I want to remain grounded in the Lord and be sure at all times that God is my vision, that He is the Lord of my heart. I want to be sure that I don't heed riches, or empty praise. Remembering God is my inheritance is key. I want to treasure thou art - not the great things happening. He is ruler of all!

Be Thou My Vision was written in the eighth century from an unknown poet who lived in Ireland. This poet and her belief in Christ came about thanks to the enduring work of St. Patrick in Ireland (first as a slave then as an evangelizer.) St. Patrick planted about 200 churches and had 100,000 converts during his time!

The poem, written by the unknown poet, was translated in 1905 by Mary Elizabeth Byrne from Dublin, Ireland. Eleanor Hull put the words to rhyme and meter and it was set to the tune of the Irish folk song "Slane." The reason why it was set to this tune was because it was thought that Slane was an area where St. Patrick challenged the Druids with the gospel.

Here are the lyrics:
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.

If you would like to hear the song you can click the link below. This is the most traditional version and my personal favorite.

Be Thou My Vision

May Christ be your vision this year as well!

~Blessings~

(Hymn facts and information taken from the book "Then Sings My Soul" by Robert J. Morgan)