“Be Thou My Vision,” ELW 793 and WOV 776
1 Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
naught be all else to me, save that thou art:
thou my best thought both by day and by night,
waking or sleeping, they presence my light.
2 Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word;
I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord.
Thou my soul's shelter, and thou my high tow'r,
raise thou me heav'nward, O Pow'r of my pow'r.
3 Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise,
thou mine inheritance, now and always:
thou and thou only, the first in my heart,
great God of heaven, my treasure thou art.
4 Light of my soul, after victory won,
may I reach heaven's joys, O heaven's Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
still be my vision, O Ruler of all.
Devotion
This Irish traditional melody with its 8th century text speaks a vivid message of comfort and assurance when we live in God’s safe embrace. Not only does the melody invoke the feeling of God’s presence, assurance and peace, like the careful watch of a shepherd over his sheep, but its text wraps up the week’s recurrent theme of God’s presence in our daily lives and gracious gift of eternal life.
Prayer
O God, we pray that you be our vision, our wisdom, our shelter and our guardian even as you give us the assurance of your eternal salvation. Amen.