The Valley of Vision

Last week, a dear friend gave me a book called, "Valley of Vision" for completing the Respectable Sins bible study.

It is filed with Puritan prayers written by the likes of John Bunyan (Paul's brother) (Not really) to Charles Spurgeon.

I never realized how humbling it is to read or pray these prayers. The Puritans were the embodiment of meek and humble. They knew just how wretched they were and how glorious and wonderful God is.

Christians need to be reminded of these attributes of God.

This is the first prayer in the book and by far, my favorite.

The Valley of Vision

Lord, High and Holy, Meek and Lowly,

Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision,
Where I live in the depths but see thee in the heights;
Hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold thy glory.

Let me learn by paradox:
That the way down is the way up,
that to be low is to be high,
that the broken heart is the healed heart,
that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,
that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,
that to have nothing is to possess all,
that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,
that to give is to receive,
that the valley is the place of vision.

Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells,
and the deeper the well, the brighter thy stars shine;
Let me find thy light in the darkness,
thy life in my death,
thy joy in my sorrow,
thy grace in my sin,
thy riches in my poverty,
thy glory in my valley.