Sunday, August 21, 2011

Hodge-Podge Sunday

Today I’d like to share my favorite hymn with you guys, “Be Thou My Vision.”  Now, I’m the type who enjoys a broad spectrum of Christian music – everything from the most stoic of hymns to the heaviest of Christian metal.  However, “Be Thou My Vision” remains my all-time favorite Christian song because it was originally written as sort of a battle march for Christians (and if you ever get a chance to hear it performed in battle march-style with drums and bagpipes, be sure to catch it!).  I’m posting the lyrics below.

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 and I Thy true son
Thou in me dwelling and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle shield and sword for the fight
Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight
Thou my soul’s shelter and Thou my high tower
Raise Thou my 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 Son!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall
Still be my vision, O ruler of all.







What do you think?  Are there any parts of the song that you particularly like?  Do you like hymns in particular – either in their original versions, or “modernized” versions?  What other Christian songs do you like?

3 comments:

Rolyat said...

My favorite part of the song is "Riches I heed not nor mans empty praise, thou mine inheritance now and always" because every time I hear it it always causes me to stop and think about if that really has been my mindset the past week or however long. My all time favorite song though is Jeremy Camp's I'll Take You Back. What about everyone else? I would love to find new songs to add to my ipod! :)

Unknown said...

This song is one of my favorites too! I get chills almost everytime I hear it. My favorite part in it is in the very beginning when it says "Thou my best thought, by day or by night." It really helps me to remember to keep my mind set on Jesus. :)
Other favorite hymns of my are "O God Beyond All Praising" and "Here I Am." Their simple but very beautiful.
I also love MercyMe and their songs "I will worship You." It's very good, and catchy. :)

Sapphire said...

@Rolyat Yeah, that part always makes me think, too. I hadn't heard "I'll Take You Back" before, but I just looked it up on YouTube, and really liked it! I especially liked the line, "When I fall and bring your name down" - talk about making me think. :-)

@Clare That's really cool that we have a similar taste in music! I like "Here I Am" a lot, too - there's just something special about those conversationy songs. :-)