Recommend – The Valley of Vision

Several years ago, I purchased a little devotion book titled “The Valley of Vision.”  It is a collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions.  One of the reasons I would like to recommend this little book as it gives insight into the mind of the Puritans who centered their lives around God.  The book is arranged by topic.  For instance, Chapter 1 is regarding Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Chapter 2 is Redemption and Reconciliation, Chapter 3 Penitence and Deprecation – a total of 10 chapters.  There is no need to read it in the order it is arranged though I found that to be the easiest way for me to acclimate to the book.  I now go back and read what I want to read as it is a book of Puritan devotions, not a text book that needs to be read in chapter order.

I would like to share the introduction as it does set the tone for the rest of the book and will give you an idea of what the book will be like.

The Valley of Vision

LORD, HIGH AND HOLY, MEEK AND LOWLY,

Thou hast brought me to the alley of vision, where I live in the depths but see thee in the heights; hemmed in by mounts 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 alley is the place of visions,

Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells, and the deeper the wells, the brighter thy stars shine;

Let me find they 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.

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