Worship: A Vision of My Heart

“What is worship? Worship is to feel in your heart and express in some appropriate manner a humbling but delightful sense of admiring awe and astonished wonder and overpowering love in the presence of that most ancient Mystery, that Majesty which philosophers call the First Cause, but which we call Our Father Which Are in Heaven.” A.W. Tozer

I find it impossible to truly know God and not worship Him. The clearer my vision of Him, the more overwhelmed my heart is to express my awe, praise, thanksgiving, and love. Worship acknowledges His presence which reminds me of who God is and who is not – namely myself.

For me, worship is not a scheduled program on Sunday mornings. Worship is not a particular music style. Worship is not something I watch or is done for me. Worship is a response of my heart to the lover of my soul.

One of my favorite hymns that lead me to worship is Be Thou My Vision. This is truly a love song that places in my heart a vision of passionate love for my God. Each verse of the song is followed by scripture God placed in my heart. Together, they give me a vision that develops in me an attitude of humility, contrition, and devotion.

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.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

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.

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!

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.

God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear.
Be still, and know that I am God.

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 pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.

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.

Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

The twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."

Dear Father,
How shallow is my understanding of you. I am so thankful that you desire to be known. Lord use this time to create in my heart a vision of who you are and what you doing in my life. Help me to be consumed by a desire and need to worship you.
Delighting in You,
Dan