Devotionals: The Valley of Vision

O LORD GOD, Thou hast commanded me to believe in Jesus;       and I would flee to no other refuge,   wash in no other fountain,   build on no other foundation,   receive from no other fullness,   rest in no other relief. His water and blood were not severed   in their flow at the cross,   may they never […]

O SUPREME MOVING CAUSE, May I always be subordinate to thee,         be dependent upon thee,   be found in the path where thou dost walk,     and where thy Spirit moves,   take heed of estrangement from thee,     of becoming insensible to thy love. Thou dost not move men like stones,   but dost endue them with life,   not […]

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 […]

ALL-SEARCHING GOD, Thou readest the heart,       viewest principles and motives of actions,       seest more defilement in my duties     than I ever saw in any of my sins. The heavens are not clean in thy sight,   and thou chargest the angels with folly; I am ready to flee from myself because of     my abominations; Yet thou […]

THOU ETERNAL GOD, Thine is surpassing greatness, unspeakable       goodness, super-abundant grace; I can as soon count the sands of ocean’s ‘lip’   as number thy favours towards me; I know but a part, but that part exceeds all praise. I thank thee for personal mercies,   a measure of health, preservation of body,   comforts of house and […]

O LORD, I hang on thee; I see, believe, live,     when thy will, not mine, is done; I can plead nothing in myself   in regard of any worthiness and grace,   in regard of thy providence and promises,   but only thy good pleasure. If thy mercy make me poor and vile, blessed be thou! Prayers arising […]

THOU INCOMPREHENSIBLE BUT PRAYER-HEARING GOD, Known, but beyond knowledge,         revealed, but unrevealed,         my wants and welfare draw me to thee,   for thou hast never said, ‘Seek ye me in vain’. To thee I come in my difficulties, necessities,     distresses;   possess me with thyself,     with a spirit of grace and supplication,     with a prayerful attitude of […]

O SOURCE OF ALL GOOD, What shall I render to thee for the gift of gifts,       thine own dear Son, begotten, not created,   my Redeemer, proxy, surety, substitute,   his self-emptying incomprehensible,   his infinity of love beyond the heart’s grasp. Herein is wonder of wonders:   he came below to raise me above,   was born like me […]

O FATHER, Thou hast made man for the glory of thyself,       and when not an instrument of that glory,       he is a thing of nought; No sin is greater than the sin of unbelief,   for if union with Christ is the greatest good,   unbelief is the greatest sin,   as being cross to thy command; I […]

O GOD, Praise waiteth for thee,       and to render it is my noblest exercise; This is thy due from all thy creatures,   for all thy works display thy attributes     and fulfil thy designs; The sea, dry land, winter cold, summer heat,   morning light, evening shade are full of thee,   and thou givest me them richly […]

BLESSED LORD JESUS, No human mind could conceive or invent         the gospel.       Acting in eternal grace, thou art both   its messenger and its message,   lived out on earth through infinite compassion,   applying thy life to insult, injury, death,   that I might be redeemed, ransomed, freed. Blessed be thou, O Father, for contriving this way, Eternal […]

CREATOR AND REDEEMER GOD, Author of all existence, source of all       blessedness, I adore thee for making me capable of knowing thee,   for giving me reason and conscience,   for leading me to desire thee; I praise thee for the revelation of thyself in     the gospel,   for thy heart as a dwelling place of pity,   for […]

O GOD WHOSE WILL CONQUERS ALL, There is no comfort in anything apart from       enjoying thee   and being engaged in thy service; Thou art All in all, and all enjoyments are what   to me thou makest them, and no more. I am well pleased with thy will, whatever it is,   or should be in all […]

O LORD GOD, WHO INHABITEST ETERNITY, The heavens declare thy glory,       The earth thy riches, The universe is thy temple; Thy presence fills immensity, Yet thou hast of thy pleasure created life,   and communicated happiness; Thou hast made me what I am, and given me   what I have; In thee I live and move and […]

O SON OF GOD AND SON OF MAN, Thou wast incarnate, didst suffer, rise, ascend       for my sake; Thy departure was not a token of separation     but a pledge of return; Thy Word, promises, sacraments, show thy death     until thou come again. That day is no horror to me,   for thy death has redeemed me, […]