My own Valley of Vision paperback edition made prettier

Because I firmly believe that there is no other way to grow in prayer than by praying, I just started Joe Thorn’s  “organized approach to working through The Valley of Vision prayer book in 13 weeks using 3 daily “appointments” scheduled at 9am, 12pm, and 3pm Monday through Friday.”

Walking Through the Valley of Vision a project by Joe Thorn

I want to do this, because I am prone to wander. Sometimes I just need reminders to help me break my routine and come before the Lord in prayer; and as with any other prayer companion this one should never substitute our time in communion with the Lord through praying, reading and meditating on His Word.

Tim Challies said it well,

“I need to learn to pray and because I know there is much I can learn from this book. Though it is not an instruction manual, there is a sense in which is serves in just that way. Most of us (perhaps all of us) learn to pray by imitating others. And the people who prayed these prayers and recorded them for us are worthy of imitation. These are not prayers to be read as if just reading the words has any power or worth; they are prayers to be prayed as if they were your own words. As you speak them, offering them to God, they become just that”.

Joe Thorn says about this organized approach:

“Please keep in mind that this should not be the totality of your prayer life, but one part of it, fueling your meditation on Scripture, dependency on the gospel, exercise of faith in and love for Jesus.”

And because, I also firmly believe that we should encourage one another to persevere in good deeds, (and certainly prayer is one!), I want to invite you to join me. Yes, I know, Thanksgiving and Christmas and all that comes along with those Holidays will be there (this project lasts 13 weeks), but that is why I am convinced that I need extra help to keep myself focused in what really matters, at the feet of Jesus and not be caught up in the business of the seasons to come.

Would you join me? I already have my sister joining me; so that makes two of us, but it would be great if more friends would walk through the Valley of Vision along. If you are interested go to Joe Thorn’s page, read the basic instructions, print your schedule, paste it (or just tuck it) inside your book and start right there. Remember that this only goes from Monday through Friday, so you have two more days to catch up. (If you have a Twitter account and would like to tweet about this use the hashtag #walkingthruthevalleyofvision)

May we learn to live at the foot of the cross, where we learn by paradoxes.

Becky