The Valley of Vision: a collection of Puritan prayers is a book of prayers I have in my library. The Puritan Movement took place primarily during the 16th & 17th centuries.
As with any “religiosity” the corrupt heart of mankind can twist God’s Word to mean what they want it to mean – hence, the completely unbiblical actions of the religious leadership surrounding the Salem Witch trials during the Puritan era.
However, although the wicked events claim most of the press, most Puritans were just like us: broken people trying to navigate this sometimes painful and chaotic thing we call life. The prayers in the book mentioned above, and cited below, represent the fervent prayer-life of these precious, broken people. Enjoy and be inspired… nw
“O incomprehensible but prayer-hearing God,
I thank you for the riches to me in Jesus – for the unclouded revelation of him in your Word where I behold his person, character, grace, glory, humiliation, sufferings, death and resurrection.
I come to you with nothing of my own to offer – no works, nothing of worth, no promises. Just me.
Deliver me from the natural darkness of my own mind, from the corruptions of my heart, from the temptations to which I am exposed, from the daily snares that attend me.
O Lord, I am astonished at the difference between what I receive and what I deserve – the heaven I am bound for, the hell I deserve.
O God, it is amazing that we can talk so much about our mere human power and goodness when, if you did not hold us back at every moment, we would be devils incarnate.
Nothing exceeds your power. Your might is infinite, your grace limitless, your name glorious.
Let angels sing for sinners repenting, for prodigals restored, for Satan’s captives released, for blind eyes opened, for broken hearts healed, for giving us hope in a sometimes hopeless world.
Destroy in me every lofty thought. Break my pride to pieces and scatter it to the winds.
Let my words and actions be firmly rooted in your Word.
I ask great things of a great God.
Amen”