Be Thou My Vision

Life is full of ups and downs, sorrows and joys, happiness and mourning.  Our human minds and hearts long to escape the miserable parts of our existence but its those very parts that make us seek our Savior.

    "It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.  The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold". Ps 119:71-72

 They make us realize that we are not home yet.  They help us to realize the graveness and ugliness of sin and the immense price that Christ paid for us to give us hope, faith, a relationship with our Father.  They teach us. 

  Paradoxes of the Kingdom
A Puritan Prayer

Lord, you have brought me to the valley of vision
Where I live in the depths but see you in the heights;
hemmed in by the mountains of sin I behold your glory
Let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up
that to be low is to be high
that the broken heart is the healed heart
that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,
that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,
that to have nothing is to possess all,
that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,
that to give is to receive,
that the valley is the place of vision.
                                           

 We are not floundering around on this sad planet with no purpose.  We are here to glorify Him.  That sounds kind of lofty, unattainable, but I believe its simpler than we sometimes think…confession and repentance, praying for one another, praying with one another, giving him credit with our words and actions for what he is doing in our lives, loving him and attesting to that love when things are falling apart, reminding each other of the gospel.

"See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God";

How can we not love such a Father who speaks to us words like:

"Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." Is 41:10

"For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope". Jer. 29:11

"The LORD appeared to him from afar, saying, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness" Jer. 31:3

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you. Is 43:2

"But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel, "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine!" Is. 43:1

I know I have probably posted this great hymn before but I am compelled to do it again.  Its the prayer of my life:

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.