Wednesday, July 09, 2008

Want to Grow in Prayer?: Read The Valley of Vision

I don't know what took me more than three decades of life to hear about The Valley of Vision. Worse yet, I don't know what took me more than a year after I heard about it to buy it.

I can't remember ever meeting a Christian who felt satisfied with his prayer life. I'm surely no different. This collection of thematically-arranged prayers recorded by Puritans is an ideal tool for thinking more deeply and praying more honestly and introspectively. And of course it's dripping with God-centered theology.

Here's a part I read recently as part of my quiet time that smacked me right between the eyes:
There is in all wrongs and crosses a double cross—that which crosses me and that which crosses thee.;
In all good things there is somewhat that pleases me, somewhat that pleases thee;
My sin is that my heart is pleased or troubled as things please or trouble me, without my having a regard to Christ.
It's even formatted, in more detail than I've replicated here, to help the reader follow the intricacies and parallelisms of Puritan thought and language. Buy it here for under $10.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

yes. good.

Micah said...

A friend gave me a copy of this and I could barely put it down. It's now my favorite gift to someone who's been a great encouragement to me.
I do get funny looks when I try to explain that it's not liturgical.

Brandon said...

Ben, I am just so thankful from a customer service standpoint that you include multiple "WTS" links in your posts. It really sets you apart. It adds "value" to your blog. ;-)

Anonymous said...

I LOVE it and bring it with me to our communion services...it really brings out the beauty of the cross in light of my dreadful wickedness.

Reforming Baptist said...

That's what happened to me too! It took me three decades to discover VOV and I didn't buy it until someone let me borrow it. I use it every morning to begin my prayers. It really shapes your mind and attitude for prayer!

Anonymous said...

I've had that book for years. I really love the old Puritan stuff. I read it frequently - I'm especially fond of Thomas Watson. I recommend "The Art of Divine Contentment"