Valley of Vision

Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Today's post features a prayer from the book entitled "Valley of Vision". Back in the mid-seventies a man by the name of Arthur Bennett put together a collection of Puritan prayers prayed in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries that has become a devotional classic. Bennett's book was entitled "Valley of Vision" due to the title of the opening prayer. I felt today that this would be a great way to start off the week and offer it to you for your meditation and edification.

"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 wells the brighter Thy stars shine; let me find Thy light in my 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."