Valley of Vision (#122 of 365+)

“Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with
pools” (Psalm 84:5-6)

Joni explained the Valley of Baca was a parched place also known as “a place of weeping”. When I experience spiritual drought—when I feel I’ve hit rock bottom or the end of my rope—the Spirit of God brings the refreshing downpour I desperately need. Actually, I always need it but I don’t fully realize how much until I thirst for it. Like this past week when my body started showing signs of dehydration, that’s when I knew I needed to drink more water.

The Lord says, “I'll give you a full life in the emptiest of places… You'll be like a well-watered garden, a gurgling spring that never runs dry” (Isaiah 58:11 MSG)

Joni quoted a beautiful Puritan prayer called “The Valley of Vision”, which I will make my prayer today:

“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”. In Jesus’ name. Amen.