Monday, November 18, 2013

Praise and Thanksgiving - Valley of Vision Prayers


O my God,Thou fairest, greatest, first of all objects,my heart admires, adores, loves Thee,for my little vessel is as full as it can be,and I would pour out all that fullness before Thee in ceaseless flow.
When I think upon and converse with Thee     ten thousand delightful thoughts spring up,     ten thousand sources of pleasure are unseal,     ten thousand refreshing joys spread over my heart,     crowding into every moment of happiness.
I bless thee for the soul thou hast created,     for adorning it, sanctifying it, though it is fixed in barren soil;     for the body thou hast given me,     for preserving its strength and vigour,     for providing sense to enjoy delights,     for the ease and freedom of my limbs,     for hands, eyes, ears that do thy bidding;     for thy royal bounty providing my daily support,     for a full table and overflowing cup,     for appetite, taste, sweetness,     for social joys of relatives and friends,     for ability to serve others,     for a heart that feels sorrow and necessities,     for a mind to care for my fellow-men,     for opportunities of spreading happiness around,     for loved ones in the joys of heaven,     for my own expectation of seeing thee clearly.
I love thee above the powers of language to express,     for what thou are to thy creatures.
Increase my love, O my God, through time and eternity.

Monday, November 11, 2013

The Grace of the Cross - Valley of Vision Prayers


O My Savior,
I thank Thee from the depths of my being for Thy wondrous grace and love in bearing my sin in Thine own body on the tree. May Thy cross be to me as the tree that sweetens my bitter Marahs, as the rod that blossoms with life and beauty, as the brazen serpent that calls forth the look of faith. By Thy cross crucify my every sin, use it to increase my intimacy with thyself, make it a ground of all my comfort, the liveliness of all my duties, the sum of all Thy gospel promises, the comfort of all my afflictions, the vigor of my love, thankfulness, graces, the very essence of my religion, and by it give me that rest without rest, the rest of ceaseless praise.
Oh My Lord and Savior,
Thou hast also appointed a cross for me to take up and carry, a cross before Thou givest me a crown. Thou hast appointed it to be my portion, but self-love hates it, carnal reason is unreconciled to it, without the grace of patience I cannot bear it, walk with it, profit by it. Oh blessed cross, what mercies dost thou bring with thee. Thou art only esteemed hateful by my rebel will, heavy because I shirk thy load. Teach me, gracious Lord and Savior, that with my cross Thou sends promised grace so that I may bear it patiently, that my cross is Thy yoke which is easy, and Thy burden which is light.

Monday, November 4, 2013

Christ the Word - Valley of Vision Prayers

My Father,
In a world of created changeable things, Christ and his Word alone remain unshaken.
O to forsake all creatures, to rest as a stone on him the foundation, to abide in him, be borne up by him!
For all my mercies come through Christ, who has designed, purchased, promised, effected them.
How sweet it is to be near him, the Lamb, filed with holy affections!
When I sin against thee I cross thy will, love, life, and have no comforter, no creature, to go to.
My sin is not so much this or that particular evil, but my continual separation, disunion, distance from thee, and having a loose spirit towards thee.
But thou hast given me a present, Jesus thy Son, as Mediator between thyself and my soul, as middle-man who in a pit holds both him below and him above, for only he can span the chasm breached by sin, and satisfy divine justice.
May I always lay hold upon this Mediator, as a realized object of faith, and alone worthy by his love to bridge the gulf.
Let me know that he is dear to me by his Word; I am one with him by the Word on his part, and by faith on mine;
If I oppose the Word I oppose my Lord when he is most near;
If I receive the Word I recieve my Lord wherein he is nigh.
O thou who hast the herats of all men in thine hand, form my heart according to the Word, according to the image of thy Son,
So shall Christ the Word, and his Word be my strength and comfort.”