Lord’s Day, Vol. 5 No. 38

(1) Be Thou My Vision

The hymn, “Be Thou My Vision,” has its origins almost fifteen hundred years ago in Ireland.  Written by the sixth-century Irish poet, Dallán Forgaill, also known as St. Dallán. Monks chanted his poetry, and someone much later used it as the basis for this hymn. St. Dallán lost his sight, which inspired the first line, “Be Thou our vision”.

The hymn is a prayer — a prayer that Christ will be our vision — our best thought — our presence — our light.

What would it mean if Christ were our vision?  How would it change our lives?

It would mean simply this—that instead of seeing the world through the eyes of a Madison Avenue advertising agent or a Hollywood movie or a television newscaster, we would see the world through Christ’s eyes.

It would change our lives, because seeing the world through Christ’s eyes would cause us to love as Christ loved.

It would cause us to focus less on getting the things that we want and more on giving what we can to help others. It would cause us to care less about other people’s opinions and more about the direction that God would have our lives to take.

In some ways, it would complicate our lives, because we could no longer be as focused on the things that the world considers important — more wealth, possessions, fame.

But in other ways it would simplify our lives, because it would allow us to stop striving for ever-larger piles of things and would allow us to build up on spiritual values.

People who have come to see the world through Christ’s eyes tend to be centered —less troubled than most—strong with a strength that comes from God. “Be thou my vision.”  As we sing it, let us remember that it is a prayer.

Let us make it our prayer.

 

English version by Eleanor Hull, 1912:

 

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.

 

[Extracted and Edited from https://www.sermonwriter.com/hymn-stories/be-thou-my-vision by Richard Niell Donovan]

 

(2) Church Mobile App

BHBPC mobile app is available in iTunes and in the Android store. Members and friends can download the app for free.

Do search under “Blessed Hope Church” and locate the icon for download if you have not done so. New ‘tabs” include “CREATION” with videos from Creation Ministries International. “SHARE GOSPEL (E)” in English and “SHARE GOSPEL (M) in Mandarin with audio explanation.

 

Do avail yourself with this mobile resource app for your spiritual strengthening. Amen.

 

Yours lovingly,

Pastor Lek Aik Wee