O Great God Of Highest Heaven
O great God of highest heaven Occupy my lowly heart Own it all and reign supreme Conquer every rebel power Let no vice or sin remain That resists Your holy war You have loved and purchased me Make me Yours forevermore
I was blinded by my sin Had no ears to hear Your voice Did not know Your love within Had no taste for heaven’s joys Then Your Spirit gave me life Opened up Your Word to me Through the gospel of Your Son Gave me endless hope and peace
Help me now to live a life That’s dependent on Your grace Keep my heart and guard my soul From the evils that I face You are worthy to be praised With my every thought and deed O great God of highest heaven Glorify Your Name through me
You are worthy to be praised With my every thought and deed O great God of highest heaven Glorify Your Name through me
Based on The Valley of Vision prayer “Regeneration.” Music and words by Bob Kauflin © 2006 Sovereign Grace Praise/BMI (adm. by Integrity Music). Sovereign Grace Music, a division of Sovereign Grace
In those quiet moments when we’re alone with our thoughts, we often find our hearts aren’t as peaceful as we’d like. The hymn “O Great God” really hits home, reminding us that our hearts, which tend to wander, need God’s grace to bring them back in line.
“O great God of highest heaven, occupy my lowly heart…”
This first line is both a cry for help and an admission of where we’re at. It’s saying that while our hearts were made to connect with God, they’re often filled with distractions, desires, and fears that pull us away from Him. We’re asking God to take over our hearts, knowing that for Him to truly reign, something—or a lot of things—need to be pushed aside. Just like the psalmist says, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10, ESV). We need God to move in and clean house.
How often do we hang onto things that keep Him at arm’s length? Whether it’s pride, anger, or the little things we turn into idols, we know these “rebel powers” inside us aren’t easily taken down. But the hymn encourages us to invite God into this struggle, trusting that He’ll fight for us. “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:4, ESV).
“Let no vice or sin remain that resists Your holy war…”
This line doesn’t mince words. It’s intense, showing just how serious our spiritual battle is. But we’re not in it alone. The hymn reminds us that God has “loved and purchased” us, securing our victory through Jesus. This truth brings us down a notch—our strength isn’t enough, but His grace more than covers us. “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57, ESV).
Grace is often seen as something soft and gentle, but here, it’s a powerful, transforming force. It doesn’t just soothe us; it goes to war against anything that separates us from God. Grace doesn’t leave us where it found us. It digs deep, uprooting sin and planting the seeds of a new life. “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age” (Titus 2:11-12, ESV).
“I was blinded by my sin, had no ears to hear Your voice…”
This verse captures what it’s like to be spiritually blind—a place we’ve all been. Before grace, we couldn’t see, hear, or even want the things of God. We were lost, looking for happiness in all the wrong places. But then, in a moment of mercy, “Your Spirit gave me life.” “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins… But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved” (Ephesians 2:1, 4-5, ESV).
This is where everything changes. God, in His endless patience, opens our eyes to the beauty of His truth. Not because we deserve it, but because He loves us. It’s a gift we could never earn, a hope that anchors us in His promises. “He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5, ESV).
“Help me now to live a life that’s dependent on Your grace…”
As we move forward, this hymn becomes a prayer for the strength we need every day. We ask for help, knowing our own strength will let us down. It’s a call to live in constant reliance on God’s grace—not just in the tough times, but in everything we think, say, and do. This is what true humility looks like, recognizing that we always need Him. “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9, ESV).
Our hearts, once full of fear and pride, are now protected by His love. The hymn ends with a bold statement: “Glorify Your Name through me.” This is what our transformed lives are all about—that through us, others might see how great God is. “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16, ESV).
As we think about this hymn, we’re reminded that walking with God isn’t about being perfect on our own. It’s about surrendering to His perfect love, letting Him take over every part of our hearts, and trusting that He’ll finish the work He started in us. “And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6, ESV). In this surrender, we find peace, joy, and the true purpose for which we were created: to glorify His Name in all that we do.