As of 2006, she has released nineteen albums. Thirty-two of her singles have reached the Number 1 position on Christian radio national airplay charts. These include "He Is Exalted", "God Is In Control", "We Bow Down" and "The Warrior Is A Child". She has received five GMA Dove Awards, and three American Songwriter Awards.
Some of Paris' songs have been included in the hymnals by a variety of churches including the United Methodist church and various Charismatic churches. In recent years, Paris has focused on recording new versions of some of her worship standards and writing new praise and worship music in contrast to contemporary Christian pop songs that she released the latter 1990s.
Her uncle, Loren Cunningham is the founder of Youth With A Mission, while her family started Ecclesia College in Elm Springs, Arkansas, where her brother Oren Paris III is president and father Oren Paris II is chancellor. Paris herself studied theology and sacred music, though she has claimed to have placed little emphasis in her formal studies on composition or songwriting. Beyond songwriting, she is the author of four books, three of which focus on contemporary Christian theology.
She and her husband Jack Wright have one child, Jack Paris Wright, born April 29, 2001.
Although widely associated for much of her career with Star Song Records, EMI switched her over to the Sparrow label in 1996, before her contract ended after 2003. In 2005, she switched to Michael Coleman's INO label.
Be Thou My Vision
Twila Paris Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Thou my best thought, by day or by night; Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
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.
High King of heaven, my victory won, May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heav'ns Son!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, still be my vision, O ruler of all.
Be Thou my Wisdom, Thou my true Word; I ever with Thee, Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I thy true son; Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
Be Thou my battle-shield, sword for my 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.
The song "Be Thou My Vision" is a Christian hymn that expresses the singer's desire for God to be the center of their life. The song opens with the request for the Lord to be the singer's vision. This is a powerful way of asking God to guide them and direct them in all aspects of their life. The singer acknowledges that nothing else is as important as God, and they want to focus their life on Him alone. Throughout the song, the singer asks for God's guidance in all areas, from thoughts and actions to the hope of eternal life in heaven.
The refrain of the hymn repeats the plea of the singer for God to be their vision, wisdom, father, and battle-shield. The verse also reflects on the joys of heaven and the desire of the singer's heart to honor and worship God in all things. The last line of the hymn, "still be my vision, O ruler of all," is a reminder that God is the one true ruler over all and that the singer's life should be focused on him alone.
Line by Line Meaning
Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart; Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Lord, be the only thing I see and focus on in my heart. May nothing else matter to me compared to You.
Thou my best thought, by day or by night; Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
You are my most comforting and uplifting thought, whether I'm awake or asleep. Your presence is my guiding light at all times.
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 do not value earthly riches or the approval of others, as You are my true reward. You and only You hold the highest place in my heart as the King of Heaven, my most valuable treasure.
High King of heaven, my victory won, May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heav'ns Son!
As the victorious King of heaven, I pray that You grant me entrance into the joys of Heaven, Son of the bright heavens.
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, still be my vision, O ruler of all.
No matter what happens in life, may You always be the desire and goal of my heart, ruling over all.
Be Thou my Wisdom, Thou my true Word; I ever with Thee, Thou with me, Lord;
May You be my source of wisdom and truth, always with me and I with You, Lord.
Thou my great Father, I thy true son; Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
You are my loving Father, and I am Your obedient child. I ask that You reside in me, and that we become one in spirit.
Be Thou my battle-shield, sword for my fight, Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight.
Be my source of protection and strength as I fight life's battles. Provide me with honor and joy in You.
Thou my soul's shelter, Thou my high tower. Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.
Be the shelter for my soul and the high tower of my life. Lift me up towards Heaven, O source of my power.
Contributed by Carter E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.