Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all

I have written before of how God has used music in my life. The words of the songs can touch my heart quicker and deeper than any sermon.
Be Thou My Vision is one of those songs. It is a song I have sung as a prayer. Be my vision, Lord; Be the Lord of my heart. Don't let anything else come before You in my life.

I have sung it out in a song of praise for who God is. You are my inheritance; all that I need is in You. My High King, who has given the victory, who is ruler over everything.

Yesterday it was a song of conviction. Where is your vision? Without My presence where is your light? Whose wisdom have you been leaning on? When the world pressed in, why didn't you seek My heart?

God used this beautiful song to convict my heart. I had taken my eyes off of Him. Oh, I had felt the niggling of my conscience these past few weeks when I sometimes skipped my quiet time in the morning. There was a feeling of things not being right when I dashed off a cursory prayer with all the right words, but none of it from the heart. I'll admit I knew things were off course, but I just didn't want to deal with it. I had too many other worries and issues to deal with.

And so, yesterday, God took my face in His hands and whispered, ever so gently. Come back to me. I am Holy. Whatever happens, follow Me.

Music

There is just something about music that touches my soul. I had a conversation with someone the other day and it has been on my mind ever since. This person declared that they didn't like the hymns and would not go to a church that played them because, "the hymns never did anything for me".

I was surprised, as the hymns have been so special and dear to me. A hymn is what began my journey toward salvation. The first hymn I ever heard was when I was a senior in high school. A girl on the bus, in the seat in front of me, offered to let me listen to her walkman (yes, I am that old!). A young man was singing "Nothing But the Blood", accompanied by a single acoustic guitar.

What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus; What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

We got to talking and a few months later (March 7, 1990), I accepted Jesus as my Saviour. It was that hymn that softened my heart to hear the gospel.

My favorite hymn of all time is "Be Thou My Vision". I have loved this hymn since the first time I heard it. It was played with bagpipes and fiddles and Oh! the words! The hymn writer touched on what has been my heart's desire ever since that bus ride so long ago! Whenever I sing this hymn, it truly is the prayer of my heart.

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, Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee, 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 my 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 heav'ns Son!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my vision, O ruler of all.

There are so many other beautiful hymns, with beautiful words, that somehow express what I am feeling, yet can not put into words on my own. I suppose in a sense the hymns don't "do" anything for me, either. But, it's not about what I can get from them; it's about what I can give to God with them: my praise, my worship, my adoration, my gratitude.