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‘The Life Look’ from The Valley of Vision

Occasionally, as a struggling pray-er, I love to dip back into the wonderful collation of Puritan prayers, ‘The Valley of Vision’. Here is one of my favourites, followed by my reflection on this prayer, below.


O GOD,

I bless thee for the happy moment
    when I first saw thy law fulfilled in Christ,
  wrath appeased, death destroyed, sin forgiven,
    my soul saved.
Ever since, thou hast been faithful to me:
  daily have I proved the power of Jesus’ blood,
  daily have I known the strength of the Spirit,
    my teacher, director, sanctifier.
I want no other rock to build upon than that I have,
  desire no other hope than that of gospel truth,
  need no other look than that which gazes
    on the cross.
Forgive me if I have tried to add anything
    to the one foundation,
  if I have unconsciously relied upon my knowledge,
  experience, deeds, and not seen them
    as filthy rags,
  if I have attempted to complete what is perfect
    in Christ;
May my cry be always, Only Jesus! only Jesus!
In him is freedom from condemnation,
  fullness in his righteousness,
  eternal vitality in his given life,
  indissoluble union in fellowship with him;
In him I have all that I can hold;
  enlarge me to take in more.
If I backslide,
  let me like Peter weep bitterly and return to him;
If I am tempted, and have no wit,
  give me strength enough to trust in him;
If I am weak,
  may I faint upon his bosom of eternal love;
If in extremity,
  let me feel that he can deliver me;
If driven to the verge of hope and to the pit
    of despair,
  grant me grace to fall into his arms.
O God, hear me, do for me more
  than I ask, think, or dream.


It is such a happy moment, when I see all your law, your goodness, your beauty, your holiness - every quality you possess fulfilled in this God-man, Jesus. 

Your anger swallowed up, death no longer with a hold, my heartfelt rebellion no longer a barrier. And because of this, one with you, your daughter, your precious possession. You won’t abandon me. This life I live is not just about doing your work, but enjoying YOU. 

And you’ve always been faithful. You’ve never let my foot slip. I sit here ‘Today’ and plead with you - that each day I’d know you more as Lord & Saviour, safe in you forever and under a new master - escaped from the Master of sin and death. This faithfulness to me proves the power of the shed blood of Jesus. It has held me, assured me, delighted me. The strength of your Spirit - you teach me, direct me, you change me & grow me. 

You are the only foundation worth building on, the only rock strong enough to take my load. No person can, no potential husband, no perfect boss, no patient friend. Direct my eyes to the one hope alone - life with you eternal. Can it be true that I need not look anywhere other than the cross of your dear Son? To see and believe that ‘It is finished’? What a joy! What a relief! I know I try to add to your whole, complete declaration of ‘It is finished!’. In my heart of hearts, ‘it is not finished’. In my heart of hearts, you depend on me to play my part. 

But Aimee, you are wrong. Knowledge, experience, deeds - they are worthless. I will see you, Lord, face to face one day - on that day my hands will be empty as they were on the day I received you. May my cry be always, Only Jesus! Only Jesus! I feel teary as I remember my freedom - Satan can never call me guilty, as I am by nature and choice. Vitality, freedom, such joy! I had forgotten - in the shadow of Christian hardship what Christian joy overflows.



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