I selected this hymn for my outreach article because it is one of my favorite hymns. I use the 3 stanzas below to reflect on God’s Word and how it applies to me.
1st stanza: Be Thou my vision
A common catch-phrase for Singaporeans is to say “我很忙” (I am very busy). The hectic lifestyle can drain away my energy, leaving little time to dwell on God’s word. Over time, I have become restless spiritually. Our spiritual vision is to stay with the Lord and trust Him with all our heart and not lean on our understanding (Proverbs 3:5). Our purpose is to attain citizenship in Heaven (Philippians 3:20). To do so, we have to constantly mediate upon His words (Philippians 4:8) and search the Bible day and night (Acts 17:11) in order to draw ourselves closer to God.
2nd stanza: Be Thou my wisdom
After pondering on my hectic lifestyle, I discovered the importance of slowing down and enjoying the rewards of my hard work (Ecclesiastes 3:13). I also learnt to say “No”, and seek advice from trusted individuals (Proverbs 19:20). The path we are called to walk (Matthew 7:13) is not easy; it is a narrow way filled with obstacles and rejections. However, God doesn’t want us to sink into depression. Instead, He wants us to draw closer to Him as He is the source of our comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). Joshua was filled with wisdom (Deuteronomy 34:9) before facing the seemingly impossible task of conquering the land of Canaan. God also told him to “be strong and of good courage” (Joshua 1:6). Joshua trusted in God’s will.
3rd stanza: Be Thou my buckler
God saved Israel when they followed His will. In Sam 14:1-23, King Saul hesitated to attack the Philistines at Michmash, but not his son Jonathan. Jonathan climbed over the sharp rocks and entered into the enemy’s territory. God helped Jonathan to defeat the Philistines by causing a great confusion among them. God provides the victory. We are not alone in our Christian race. Although we may not engage in physical battles with swords or bucklers, we still need to guard our faith against the fiery darts of spiritual enemies. The buckler represents the shield of faith (Ephesians 6:16). Developing our faith is the most important priority in Christianity. It is only through faith that we can be saved (Hebrews 11:6). We have to be grounded and steadfast in the faith (Colossians 1:23). This is because the devil comes as a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8).
As what was penned in the lyrics of the hymn, “Heart of my heart, for what obstacles befall on us, thou will still be my vision”. The path to Heaven is not easy. There may be times that I may need to leave my comfort zones and have to put on the buckler against the devil’s stronghold. Every little fight can hurt us, but we will heal. In the process of recovery, there will be new perspectives and we will gain strength. Not only will our faith be strengthened, but so will our defense against the devil’s allurement. Please feel free to share with me your favorite hymn.