High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heav’n’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
Be Thou My Vision (6th century)
By: Saint Dallán Forgaill (c. 560 – 640)
Listen to this modern version of this ancient hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics.
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Everyone enjoy this podcast and transcript below! It features meditative music and moments to contemplate the Scriptures and reflections shared.
Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.
As we continue our journey through this ancient text and hymn, make each stanza your own by praying through it. Let’s think about this.
Heart of My Heart
In makes sense that on the final approach to Valentine’s Day, we have a line that focuses on hearts. But the real idea that is being evoked here is not so much about love, but the heart as the center of something. And the heart of hearts being the center of the center.
There is an earnestness in the cliche, “in my heart of hearts”. It indicates believing something deeply, and sometimes to hold it as one of your most secret and true thoughts. For instance, to say “I know in my heart of hearts, I am the right man for this mission” means I truly believe this to be true.
We should confess that God is at the very center of our truest thoughts. Whatever happens, He is the heart of our heart. And it is the living out of that desire, in it’s purest form, that will allow us to see God not just eventually, but constantly.
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8 ESV
And just how do we become, “pure in heart”? Only God can do this work, but thanks be to God, He has made it available in Jesus Christ. We long to see God, and we will, if we simply respond to His invitation of love. He purifies our heart at salvation, and then continues the experience of that as we walk along with Him.
He is the very center of all that is dear to us. Even though we often fail to realize it here and now, it will not be lost on us then and there. A better understanding of that now helps us to pray earnestly for it, through all that we experience, while we wait. Ask for perseverance.
RESONATE!
We want to see God, so we better let Him work on our hearts, and partner with Him to do our part as well. Are there other things crowding Him out of that center position? Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal anything that might be competing with the One who should be the heart of your heart.
My Vision
One of the ways that we practice Him being the center of our heart is by continually making Him our highest aspiration and greatest goal. You rarely hit a target at which you are not aiming. Is the Lord set before you?
The cross in the picture here has a target built into the crux of the cross. It is a good reminder that we need to keep our eyes on the cross. It will keep us from being shaken whenever difficulties befall us, as the previous line indicated.
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Psalm 16:8 ESV
He is our goal and our prize. We are walking in a particular direction, the one that will lead us to the place we long to be, in God’s very presence. Nothing can deter us on our journey because He is with us. Thank Him for being your Vision, AND helping you to realize it.
Having a clear mental picture of what we are pressing toward makes the working and waiting easier. Having a firm faith in the Sovereign over it all does as well. Ask Him for that picture and the faith required to wait until He makes it a reality.
RESONATE!
Take a moment and pray the two prayers indicated above. The first is one of thankfulness because only by His grace can we even see Him at all. The second voices a desire to see Him more clearly. It will be time well spent.
Ruler of all, be my Vision and Victory. Help me to set my eyes on You. May that resolve find me convinced You are with me, and help me stand firm in You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Earnest Thinking!
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Podcast 25.5 Transcript
Welcome to Thursday Thoughts at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s think about this.
High King of Heaven, my victory won,
But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. Philippians 3:20-21 ESV
This incredible promise frames the hope, patience, and perseverance prayed for through the balance of the stanza. And what a glorious promise it is, stating a reality which we are waiting for as if it had already been realized. Ask the Spirit to reveal if your hope is that real.
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heav’n’s Sun!
But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:13 ESV
The righteousness of Heaven is the Son of God, bright Heaven’s Sun. He will be the light of the new heavens and earth for which we are waiting. The earth we live in has many sorrows, but the new one has all joy. This is a bold, hopeful prayer, “May I reach…” When did you last ask such a prayer for the inheritance you await?
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8 ESV
And just how do we become, “pure in heart”? Only God can do this work, but thanks be to God, He has made it available in Jesus Christ. We long to see God, and we will, if we simply respond to His invitation of love. He purifies our heart at salvation and then continues the experience of that as we walk along with Him.
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Psalm 16:8 ESV
He is our goal and our prize. We are walking in a particular direction, the one that will lead us to the place we long to be, in God’s very presence. Nothing can deter us on our journey because He is with us. Thank Him for being your Vision, AND helping you to realize it.
Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has come to your mind, or listen to what He is saying to you, then I will read our text once more, with the refrain.
High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heav’n’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
Take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond. Until next time, Be Resonant.
The post Setting Your Heart and Eyes on God appeared first on Resonant 7.
Image Attribution
Heart of My Own Heart, Whatever Befall – https://pixabay.com/photos/necklace-with-winged-heart-2900736/
Still Be My Vision, O Ruler of All – https://pixabay.com/photos/eyes-blue-sky-clouds-sunset-5459811/
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