Be Thou My Vision

You know how you can listen to a song your whole life and never really think deeply about the words? 

The other day I was listening to the song Be Thou My Vision (Twila Paris' version, which you can listen to here), and all of a sudden I was struck by what the words were actually saying.

I always thought Be Thou My Vision was about asking God to help us focus on Him and see life through His eyes. But as I listened closely to the words, I realized it was about much more than that. It's about how God should be our ultimate goal in life. No other thing we desire should even come close to this desire to know and serve Him with all that we are.

So here are the words of the song again, with my own thoughts about the meaning in italics:

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.

Oh Lord, please be the guide and goal of my life;
Remind me that knowing You is more important than anything else.
You are the thought that always brightens my sorrows
And I know that wherever I am, You light up my path.

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.

Lord, You are true wisdom and the true Word
Grant that I may know them as I know you better.
You are my Father, always with me as I am with you,
You dwell within my heart.

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.

I know that You are greater than riches, or man's approval,
Only in You does my eternal destiny lie.
You ought to be first in my heart,
And the treasure of my life. 

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.

God, You are the Highest King over all.
May I reach heaven when my life on earth ends in victory.
No matter what happens,
You are always my goal, my heart, my all.