The Valley of Vision

I find this particular Christmas season a paradox. It is the time to prepare Him room: Christ, the brightest light came down into the darkness of a fallen world so that his perfect life and atoning death would give life. I seek joy for this Gift of life, all the while sorrowful of the loss of my earthly father’s life. This particular prayer from The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions ministered to me this morning.

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 by 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 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 valley is the place of vision.

Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from 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.

Here is the link to a related worship song by Sovereign Grace Music: In the Valley