If you are a regular at FBC Nac or often watch or listen to my teaching, then you have likely heard me mention my love for the book, The Valley of Vision, edited by Arthur Bennett. I know a number of you have purchased the book and share my love for how it helps teach the art and discipline of humble prayer.
The Valley of Vision is an edited collection of Puritan prayers collected from the writings of Thomas Shepherd, Thomas Watson, Richard Baxter, John Bunyan, Isaac Watts, William Williams, Philip Doddridge, William Romaine, David Brainerd, Augustus Toplady, Christmas Evans, William Jay, Henry Law, and Charles Haddon Spurgeon (though all of those men were not technically Puritans).
Arthur Bennet, the editor, does not identify his specific sources, but Justin Taylor (linked below) has compiled a likely list of sources:
- Baxter, Richard. The Saints’ Everlasting Rest.
- Brainerd, David. Diary and Journal.
- Bunyan, John. Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners.
- Doddridge, Philip. The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul.
- Rhyes Stephen, David. Life of Christmas Evans.
- Jay, William. Prayers for the Use of Families.
- Law, Henry. Family Prayers for Four Weeks.
- Romaine, William. The Walk of Faith.
- Shepard, Thomas. Works, vol. 3.
- Spurgeon, Charles Haddon. The Pastor in Prayer.
- Toplady, Augustus. Works, vol. 1.
- Watson, Thomas. The Lord’s Prayer.
- Watts, Isaac. Works, vol. 3, section: “A Guide to Prayer.”
Williams, William. Free translations from “Y Caniedydd Cynulleidfaol Newydd” [Welsh congregational hymnal, 1921].
In the preface of the book, the editor describes the purpose of his work: “[These] prayers should be used as aspiration units, the several parts of which could become springboards for the individual’s own prayer subjects.” And that is exactly how I use the book and its brief chapters.
I have read through (and prayed through) the book a number of times in the past ten years. I really go through it in spits and spurts. Sometimes I’ll read a little in the book every day for a month or two. Then maybe take a break for a couple months. Then maybe read a little a couple times a week for a few months. I enjoy reading it most when my prayer life needs a little priming, if you know what I mean. I always read it as a supplement to reading the Bible.
But, when I do read the book, I don’t read the chapters in the order they were written. The book is arranged thematically, but I like to read it more randomly. So, I sort-of use a reading plan developed by Joe Thorn. Joe suggests reading three prayers from the book each day. I’ve never done that. But I keep a printed copy of Joe’s guide stuck in the book and use his suggested reading order. Each time I read a chapter, I mark it off the guide so I know where to read next.
Joe’s webpage is no longer active, but I have an old PDF copy of the reading guide. There is one version keyed for the leather-bound version of the book, and one keyed to work for many (though, not all) editions of the paperback version of the book, as the page numbering is different. (But, really, the purpose of the reading guide is just to give you a random path through the book instead of reading prayers from the same theme on consecutive days. So, you could just flip the book open to a random page. Then read a prayer and date the page so you will not come back to it too quickly.)
•
Leather-Bound Reading Guide
•
Paperback Reading Guide
If you are interested in more information for The Valley of Vision, check out these links.
www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-valley-of-vision
www.cslewisinstitute.org/resources/an-encouragement-to-read-and-pray-through-the-valley-of-vision/
www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justin-taylor/valley-of-vision/
