1-Minute Devotional Thought — “The Valley of Vision”
Here is the introductory prayer, “The Valley of Vision” in the beloved book of Puritans prayers which goes by the same name (published by Banner of Truth).
Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly, Thou hast 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.
Prayers for the week…
- As neighbors and citizens: Pray for our nation’s leaders as they consider weighty decisions relating to the United States’ response to so many difficult international situations — Egypt, Syria, Iran, North Korea.
- Pray for the pro-life movement around the world. Follow the leadership of Presbyterians Pro-Life as they call the church: to renew its historic and Biblical stance of opposition to the destruction of innocent human life through abortion. We call the church to renew its commitment to preserve and nurture life at every stage of development, from conception to natural death.
- Pray for the Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) ministry taking place at Stanford University (California) — led by Britton Wood:
Britton grew up in Birmingham, Ala., and graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2001. He served as an RUF intern from 2001-2004 at the University of Tennessee where he me
t his wife Elizabeth. They went to Covenant Seminary from 2004-2007 and during those short three years had Mary Walton (1.10.05), Shelby (1.10.05), Britton (9.20.06), and Katherine (9.20.06). Britton was called to serve as the campus minister for RUF at the University of South Carolina in the summer of 2007. In the summer of 2011 Britton was called by RUF to Stanford University.
- Using the new 2013 “watchlist” produced by
Open Doors, we pray for the persecuted Christians of a different country each week.
Teachers/parents, consider this a great way to introduce geography into the weekly lessons. Show students where the nation is, then pray for Christians in that place.
This week we pray for the Christians of Jordan, which ranks No. 34 on the watchlist.
The church landscape is comparable to pre-civil war Syria, with a certain amount of freedom for traditional Christians. There
is relative tolerance for Muslim-background believers; however, leaving Islam is not officially recognised and public evangelisation of Muslims is against government policy. Converts can find their marriages annulled and children taken from them. They also encounter discrimination and the threat of mental and physical abuse. Radical Islamists are becoming more active in society, and there have been reports of violence and killings of Muslim-background believers.
Pray:
Give thanks for encouraging signs of growth, both from within the nominal Christian community, and Muslims coming to faith
For the growing church among refugees from Iraq and Syria
Jordan has not been greatly affected by the Arab Spring. Pray that the political situation will remain stable.
- Prayer for the nation – focusing this week on the state of New Mexico (flag below).
- In 2013, we are praying together by name for Christians in 50 nations, Christians in all 50 states and all the presbyteries of the Presbyterian Church (USA), Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC), Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) and the emerging new Reformed body, ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians. You are encouraged to add specific pastors, lay leaders, congregations, missionaries, new church developments and other ministries to the list by posting a comment to the blog. (Please do not publicly post the names of missionaries serving in contexts where exposing their identity would cause them harm or bring harm to those they serve in Christ’s name.) Let us kneel before the Father and ask His will be done.
- Prayers for the PCUSA: Pray for the presbyteries of the Northeast (continued from last week): New Brunswick, New York City, Newark, Newton, Northern New England, Northern New York, Palisades, Southern New England, Susquehanna Valley, Utica, West Jersey, Western New York.
- Prayers for Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC): West Presbytery (Marc Huebl, stated clerk).
- Prayers for the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA): the churches of the Central Florida Presbytery (parts of North Carolina).
- Prayers for ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians.
- Prayers for The Fellowship of Presbyterians.
Additional prayers are going up for the nation of Syria. Visit http://layman.wpengine.com/syrian-pastor-pours-heart-poignant-prayer/ for a pastor’s poignant prayer regarding the situation in Syria.