The Valley of Vision

The Valley of Vision 

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 ...

Spiritual Disciplines and Legalism (video)

In this two and a half minute clip, Randy talks about how God’s grace has actually raised the bar of standards for the Christian life, but at the same time God has empowered us to live a life focused on Christ in order to jump that bar. (from Desiring God's Don't Waste Your Life)

Wesley’s Covenant Prayer

Lord, I am no longer my own, but Yours. Put me to what You will. Rank me with whom You will. Let me be employed by You or laid aside for You, exalted for You or brought low by You. Let me have all things. Let me have nothing. I freely & heartily yield all things to Your pleasure and disposal. And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, You are mine and I am Yours. So be it.

Amen. 

This article originally appeared in the Summer 2011 issue of EPM's quarterly newsletter Eternal Perspectives.

Note ...

How Far Are His Ways Above Our Own (audio)

In this five minute clip, Randy Alcorn shares about personal stories of miracles and losses when he came to understand more deeply the truth of God's sovereignty.

Prayer is Primary

1)  Prayer isn’t passive, it’s active. It’s really doing something. Prayer isn’t the least we can do, it’s the most.

2)  Prayer is supernatural. It’s reaching out of the visible world into the unseen world, and tapping into powers beyond this dimension. (Prayer picks fights with demons—and empowers righteous angels to win those fights.)

“Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Eph. 6:12).

Do those in Heaven pray for us? (audio)

In this two and half minute clip, Randy talks about the likelihood that those in Heaven may be praying for those of us living on earth, where God is at work.

Prayer Requires Christian Living

My brothers and sisters,
Let us be wary of praying to Christ with our mouths
But remaining mute in our life.
Who is it that prays to Christ?
The person who spurns worldly pleasures.
The person who says—
Not in words but in conduct—
“The world has been crucified to me
and I to the world” (Gal 6:14).
The person who lavishly gives to the poor (Ps 112:9).

Rest assured, my brothers and sisters,
You will receive.
Ask, seek, knock;
You will receive and find,
And it will be opened to you.
However, do not ask, seek, and ...

A. W. Tozer: Prayer

A Closed Mouth and Silent Heart

My heart was hot within me; while I was musing, the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue.— Psalm 39:3

Prayer among evangelical Christians is always in danger of degenerating into a glorified gold rush. Almost every book on prayer deals with the “get” element mainly. How to get things we want from God occupies most of the space. Now, we gladly admit that we may ask for and receive specific gifts and benefits in answer to prayer, but we must never forget that the highest kind of prayer is never the ...

Perspectives on Prayer from Daniel 9-10

1. Position yourself for prayer by reading Scripture first.
   “In the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the LORD given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years” (v. 2).
   
   
2. Follow Scripture’s lead toward what you should pray for. (If prayer’s the train, make Scripture the rails.)
   “So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition...” (v. 3)

A. W. Tozer: Pastoral Ministry

A New Type of Preacher

But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. — Acts 20:24

If Christianity is to receive a rejuvenation, it must be by other means than any now being used. If the Church in the second half of this century is to recover from the injuries she suffered in the first half, there must appear a new type of ...