As I contemplate the soon-coming new year and all that it has to hold, I look back also on this year and the many things that I will gladly leave behind. There are also many things that I will take with me only in memories which have brought me much joy. With so much going in during this holiday season I can’t help but think that this is what I relate to most right now. From The Valley of Vision I leave with you with a prayer called “Self-Knowledge”.
Searcher of hearts,
It is a good day to me when thou givest me a glimpse of myself;
Sin is my greatest evil,
but thou art my greatest good;
I have cause to loathe myself,
and not to seek self-honour,
for no one desires to commend his own dunghill.
My country, family, church
fare worse because of my sins,
for sinners bring judgment in thinking sins are small,
or that God is not angry with them.
Let me not take other good men as my example,
and think I am good because I am like them,
For all good men are not so good as thou desirest,
are not always consistent,
do not always follow holiness,
do not feel eternal good in sore affliction.
Show me how to know when a thing is evil
which I think is right and good,
how to know when what is lawful
comes from and evil principle,
such a desire for reputation or wealth by usury.
Give me grace to recall my needs,
my lack of knowing thy will in Scripture,
of wisdom to guide others,
of daily repentance, want of which keeps thee at bay,
of the spirit of prayer, having words without love,
of zeal for thy glory, seeking my own ends,
of joy in thee and thy will,
of love to others.
And let me not lay my pipe
too short of the fountain,
never touching the eternal spring,
never drawing down water from above.
Merry Christmas!
-Josh
I ask that you take a moment and check out the blog of a friend of Hannah’s. Hannah grew up with the Bramsen family while living in Senegal. Nathan Bramsen is one of the kids who she grew up with that has allowed God’s work in his life. Right now he is working with kids in Egypt. The evidence of God’s working is clear in his blog posts. I hope that you will be encouraged by his posts as I have been.