The Established Path of Discipleship

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.

What would you say if I asked you what your first thought was this morning when you woke up? Perhaps you would say, “It’s morning already!” Or, “Oh, my tired old body” as you hang your feet over the side of the bed. Or, if you are like me, you probably don’t even remember what you were thinking when your bladder or the alarm interrupted your slumber.

Yesterday morning was unusual because I woke up with the first stanza of “Be Thou My Vision” on my mind. Specifically, the lines, “Thou my best thought, by day or by night, Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.” It was a pleasant awakening. I then thought what a difference it would make if Jesus were my first thought every morning.

It would make a significant difference if Christ were my first thought every morning, but that would be unrealistic. I can scarcely predict what I will be thinking in five minutes, much less what I think at six o’clock in the morning. What I can do is remember to pray in the morning. And what an excellent prayer to pray is the first stanza of “Be Thou My Vision.”

Lord, may Jesus, the king of my heart, be my vision and focus today. Do not allow the distractions of the day to cloud that vision. You are, Lord Jesus, my best thought as I walk through this day and return home at night. Whether I am sleeping or waking up, you warm me with the light of your presence.

Take a moment and enjoy one of my favorite arrangements of this hymn.