Tag: Be Thou my vision

Thursday 9th April 2026

“It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. 2 Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold. 3 So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, “Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” 4 Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house. 5 And the woman conceived; so she sent and told David, and said, “I am with child.”” 2 Samuel 11:1-5

God of Holiness,

David had wives (2 Samuel 3:2-5 ) and children. He was blessed with family. He we see how easy it is to look and linger too long . . . That could have ended there but then he let it begin to dwell on his mind. And he moved form looking, thinking to doing. How do we know? He involved others by asking about her. He could have stopped at any moment and nothing would have come of it.

We may think that this is not something we would do and perhaps see this as a bigger sin. Well yes it had more consequences. The organised murder of Bathsheba’s husband and the death of the baby conceived. But remind me Lord that to You sin is sin and I should not think I’m not so bad or I don’t do big sins. I should not just trust Your Holy Spirit to warn me when I start to have any wrong thoughts. I should learn to recognise and deal with them.

Paul says we should actively not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds. So we will be able to test and approve what is Your will God. Your good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2) It’s part of our maturity as Christians, so we stop the thoughts that are not godly before they move to consideration or actions. And we see You were still faithful to Your promises to David. What a faithful God You are but that does not give us licence . . . .

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Thursday 9th April 2026

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
naught be all else to me, save that thou art –
thou my best thought, in the day or the night,
waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.

Be thou my wisdom, be 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 sword for the fight;
be thou my dignity, thou my delight,
thou my soul’s shelter, thou my high tower;
raise thou me 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, be first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my treasure thou art.

High King of Heaven, after 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.

First verse repeat

Lyrics: Based on a Middle Irish poem most attributed to Dallán Forgaill, an early Christian Irish poet born in 530AD.

Tuesday 6th May 2025

“When David was a little past the top of the mountain, there was Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth, who met him with a couple of saddled donkeys, and on them two hundred loaves of bread, one hundred clusters of raisins, one hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine. 2 And the king said to Ziba, “What do you mean to do with these?” So Ziba said, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine for those who are faint in the wilderness to drink.” 3 Then the king said, “And where is your master’s son?” And Ziba said to the king, “Indeed he is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore the kingdom of my father to me.’ 4 So the king said to Ziba, “Here, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.”” 2 Samuel 16:1-4 KJV

“Now Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king. And he had not cared for his feet, nor trimmed his mustache, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he returned in peace. 25 So it was, when he had come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, “Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?” 26 And he answered, “My lord, O king, my servant deceived me. For your servant said, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself, that I may ride on it and go to the king,’ because your servant is lame. 27 And he has slandered your servant to my lord the king, but my lord the king is like the angel of God. Therefore do what is good in your eyes.” 2 Samuel 19:24-27 KJV

Father God,

This is not so much two faced as six of one and half a dozen of the other! And David we read after he has heard both sides of the story, eaten Ziba’s provisions but then seen the length of Mephibosheth’s mustache makes a wise decision. To give Mephibosheth and Ziba half the land equally. Mephibosheth shows his true nature by being more grateful that David is safe and back as king than worrying about land.

Sometimes it is necessary to hear both sides of the story or just to recognise there is one. Someone once reminded me of a very little but often true saying. Hurt people – hurt people. We do not always know why people are so touchy of take offence at minor things. Not that it gives permission for sin and evil. But can help act rather than react in situations. Till we have heard all sides or made sure we are not responding with our own pain.

How we need You in the little hurts of life which sometimes seem bigger than they are. Like a small cut on your finger which you keep catching. Help us like David to put things right even if it is much later. David had to forgive his own people for following Absalom as he returned to be their king!

And as the King of Kings, Your Son, commanded us: we should be  as sheep in the midst of wolves. As wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” (Matthew 10:16).

In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Worship Tuesday 6th May 2025
I came across this song recently and could not find the lyrics on-line. Though not my usual genre of worship I found it held my attention. See what you think. I have added Be Thou y vision below as that seemed to fit too . . .



Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
naught be all else to me, save that thou art –
thou my best thought, in the day or the night,
waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.

Be thou my wisdom, be 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 sword for the fight;
be thou my dignity, thou my delight,
thou my soul’s shelter, thou my high tower;
raise thou me 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, be first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my treasure thou art.

High King of Heaven, after 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.

Lyrics: Possibly based on a Middle Irish poem most attributed to Dallán Forgaill, an early Christian Irish poet born in 530AD.