The following post is simply a prayer (from The Valley of Vision*) and verses that have shaped my thinking about the most important thing I can do with my life.
When we find ourselves at a fork in the road or a major transition, or when it’s just difficult to keep doing the thing that is in front of us, these words help us to figure out how to do the next right thing.
We can pray this prayer
LORD OF ALL BEING,
There is one thing that deserves my greatest care,
that calls forth my ardent desires,
That is, that I may answer the great end for which I am made–
to glorify You who has given me being, and
to do all the good I can for my fellow men;
Verily life is not worth having
if it is not improved for this noble purpose.
Yet, Lord, how little is this the thought of mankind!
Most men seem to live for themselves,
without much or any regard for Your glory,
or for the good of others;
They earnestly desire and eagerly pursue
the riches, honors, pleasures of this life,
as if they supposed that wealth, greatness, merriment,
could make their immortal souls happy;
But what false dreams are these!
And how miserable before long will those be that sleep in
them, for all our happiness consists in loving You,
and being holy as You are holy.
Help me to know continually
that there can be no true happiness,
no fulfilling of Your purpose for me,
apart from a life lived in and for the Son of Your love.
We can meditate on these truths
| Psalm 86:8-13 8 There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours. 9 All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. 10 For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God. 11 Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. 12 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. 13 For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. 诗篇86:8–13 主啊，众神明中没有一位能与你相比，你的作为无与伦比。主啊，你创造的万国都要来敬拜你，将荣耀归给你的名。因为你伟大无比，行事奇妙，唯有你是上帝。耶和华啊，求你教我行你的道，我要行在你的真理中，求你使我一心敬畏你。主——我的上帝啊，我要全心全意地赞美你，我要永远将荣耀归给你的名。因为你深爱我，从阴间的深处拯救了我。 Luke 10:41–42 38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” 路加福音 10:41-42 38 耶稣和门徒们继续他们的旅行。耶稣进了一个村庄。一个叫马大的女人欢迎耶稣到她家去。 39 她有一个妹妹，名叫马利亚，坐在耶稣脚边，听他的教导。 40 但是，马大却因为要做的事情很多，被弄得心烦意乱。她走过来对耶稣说∶“主啊，我妹妹把所有的活儿都丢给我一个人干，难道您不在意吗？请叫她来帮我一把吧！” 41 主回答她说∶“马大呀，马大，你为太多的事情操心了， 42 但是，只有一件事是必要的，马利亚已经做出了正确的选择，没有人能从她那里把它夺走。” Deuteronomy 6:4-5 4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 申命记6:4–5 听啊，以色列人，耶和华是我们的上帝，耶和华是独一的。 5 你们要全心、全意、全力爱你们的上帝耶和华。 John 15:8–11 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. 约翰福音 15:8-11 8 这样，你们结出很多果子，我父就因此得荣耀，你们也就是我的门徒了。 9 父怎样爱我，我也怎样爱你们；你们要住在我的爱里。 10 如果你们遵守我的命令，就必定住在我的爱里，正像我遵守了我父的命令，住在他的爱里一样。 11 “我把这些事告诉了你们，好让我的喜乐存在你们心里，并且使你们的喜乐满溢。 |
These verses are what inspired the title of my site, and they are the truths I have to keep coming back to throughout my life.
Resources
I’ve written before about The Valley of Vision. It’s such a great resource for prayer and meditation. This compilation of puritan prayers is a beautiful and powerful example of how to pray in a way that simultaneously reflects our deep emotions and the truths of scripture. I personally love the leather-bound version, which is gorgeous and can stand up to my frequent use. (You can find it in paperback as well as leather on Amazon.*)
“Too often ex tempore prayer lacks variety, order and definiteness. The reason for this lies partly in a neglect of due preparation. It is here that the care and scriptural thoroughness which others found necessary in their approach to God may be of help. This book has been prepared not to ‘supply’ prayers but to prompt and encourage the Christian as he treads the path on which others have gone before.” (Amazon description)
Yes! Every day I must keep myself in the love of my loving God.