Over the last couple of years, I’ve been using the Valley of Vision (a collection of puritan prayers and devotion) in my morning prayer times. Although some of the wording is slightly antiquated, it has really helped me to deepen my prayer life. Here is just a short extract from the opening prayer that sums up why this book is called ‘The Valley of Vision’:

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 posses 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.