Be Thou My Vision

The clock may have changed to Daylight Savings Time but it's still pretty dark when I drive to work at 5:00 AM. It's been a while since I have seen the sun in the morning. It's also been a while since I have played any music on the CD player in my car. I usually drive in silence or I drop in a CD from an audio Bible and listen to John or Acts. But the other morning I dropped in an old worship CD I had burned several years ago and was amazed at how the songs seemed so new and fresh.

There was a time in my Christian walk that these songs brought tears to my eyes. Their words reminding me of the goodness of God, His loving promises and, of course, the death of His Son. I love listening to Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art and Great Is Thy Faithfulness. Any of those songs could be played at my funeral and I would be singing along with them from heaven.

The lyrics of one song in particular caught my ear this week. One LINE from that song actually. The song was Be Thou My Vision. It was the very last line of the song. . .

"Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all."

Heart of my own heart - the deepest part of our hearts, our very soul, must belong to God. He has promised us that He will never leave us or forsake us. He loves us unconditionally, eternally and without doubt.

Whatever befall - now matter what happens. God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. His love never fails. Love wins. There is nothing we can do that will separate us from the love of Christ.

Still be my vision - This has got to be the key line of the entire song. The writer is singing in the previous words about struggle, pain and all the bad things that can happen to us. Yet the writer is saying he still wants God. God is everything, now matter what happens. It still bothers me that some churches and pastors have "vision meetings." Why? God provides our vision. Not man.

O Ruler of all - Like I just said, God is everything. He is the beginning and the end, the alpha and the omega. God IS all and rules over all. Nothing happens that is not known to Him. He spoke and heavens were created. One day, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

And think about the title of the song - Be Thou My Vision. What if our eyes could see what God sees? What if we knew the causes of a hurting heart? What if our eyes could see the lonely woman contemplating aborting her baby? What if we could see the young man's heart as he puts a gun to his head? What if we allowed our hearts to love like God's heart so we could be God's instruments in this world?

This world needs Jesus. There isn't a single problem that couldn't be solved by having more Jesus in it. The middle east, cancer, suicide, depression, hunger, loneliness, disease. You name it, God can fix it. Would you please pray with me this morning?

Father in heaven, give us your eyes to see the hurting and down-trodden of this world. May WE love them as YOU love them - unconditionally. May you grant us the wisdom and patience and perseverance to see each opportunity that comes our way. And may we ALWAYS share the truth, in love, for those who need to hear it. May your glory be pronounced in every household and in every heart. Lord, please, be our vision as you send us out, messengers of the truth, lights in the darkness - always hoping, always trusting and always loving those whom you place in our lives. May you be praised for YOUR vision. It is ALWAYS perfect. Amen.

Be Thou My Vision - Sandi Patty