My friend David Zavadil has begun posting the beautiful prayers from The Valley of Vision, a collection of Puritan prayers & devotions.  Inspired by his example I want to do the same thing. 

I don’t plan to make this a regular practice, but one prayer, the one giving the title to the book, has always been particularly moving to me.  I also think it is appropriate, both spiritually and geographically, for Walnut Hill, the church I serve as pastor.  Take a moment to read and reflect.  And I invite you to pray this for our church:

Lord, High and Holy, Meek and Lowly, You have brought me to the valley of vision, where I live in the depths but see you in the heights; hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold your 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 posess 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 the deepest wells, and the deeper the wells the brighter your stars shine; Let me find your light in my darkness, your life in my death, your joy in my sorrow, your grace in my sin, your riches in my poverty, your glory in my valley.