The Way Up is the Way Down!

Here is a prayer from one of my favorite prayer books called Valley of Vision A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions, published by the Banner of Truth Trust. I am sure many of you are familiar with both this book and the concept of paradox.

It is amazing that our lives of faith are truly designed, sustained, maintained, and driven by these principles or paradoxes. Of course the world thinks they are absolutely without any merit and that we are fools. Well, I admit it, I am a fool for Christ. Anyways, enjoy this prayer. If you haven't come across it yet, take some time to meditate on it. I would encourage you to add it to your devotion, this is great truth for the soul of a Gospel Driven Disciple!

Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly,

Thou has brought me to the valley of vision, where I live in the depths but see thee in the heights; hemmed in my 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 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 the 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.

I pray this often as I look around and see the valley walls that seem to moving in on me. I appreciate all of you who are praying during this time of unemployment as I seek the Lord's will. I get great comfort from this prayer, of course more so from the God who answers this prayer. May it bless you always!