Be Thou my Vision...

We often walk by sight and not by faith.I too am very easily distracted and discouraged by the things I see - my circumstances, what others have accomplished while I have not, depressing realities, existing flaws in myself, attractive yet out-of-reach stuff that I would have to trade my integrity/health/direction in life to get, etc. Face it, people. How 'spiritual' a Christian we are, we will never cease to be plagued by trials and temptations of all sorts!

But praise God - He never leaves nor forsakes us. In fact, He still speaks today to His children, through understandable words and ways.

We sang a familiar hymn in chapel yesterday - 'Be Thou my Vision'. I couldn't really concentrate fully on the words of the song - as I was playing the piano for praise/worship.

Today, a sister-in-Christ, Lydia, who knew nothing about that, prayed for me and sensed that I should take a look at the words of the exact, same song! She even pasted the lyrics of the hymn in her email to me ~ I had quite a shock (the good kind) when I checked it out and saw the words staring solemnly back at me... (Thanks, babe!)

I don't believe in coincidences. This must be God. And so, I did meditate on the words of the song.

"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."

Lydia also sensed the word 'Perseverance' as she prayed for me. What a Rhema Word of God. I totally needed that today. There's been quite a few anxieties cropping up even in this first week of the new year - and I really needed God's assurance that He would be with me.

Persevere, persevere, persevere. Even when all things seem threatening and discouraging, we still can choose to persevere in our faith. And to have faith means to fix our eyes upon Jesus despite all else, and to remember the promises of God's covenant of the cross.

May He be our vision today, dear friends. There is no better thing.

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart.