Joy

Mark Herbert preached last Sunday evening from Psalm 126, please take a listen  here. It was very helpful. Verse 3 tells us, 'the Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with joy'. That's a lovely statement and Mark urged us to find or joy in God. It's a challenging thought as well as a comforting one.

Mark closed by reading one of the  prayers from that lovely book, The Valley of Vision by Arthur Bennett. OK it's long and in somewhat quaint language, but it's beautiful, powerful and meaningful-we discussed it in our home group last night. Read it slowly and meditate!

~JOY~
O CHRIST, all Thy ways of mercy tend to and end in my delight,
Thou didst weep, sorrow, suffer that I might rejoice.
For my joy Thou has sent the Comforter,
multiplied Thy promises,
shown me my future happiness,
given me a living fountain.
Thou art preparing joy for me and me for joy;
I pray for joy, wait for joy, long for joy;
give me more than I can hold, desire, or think of.
Measure out to me my times and degrees of joy,
at my work, business duties.
If I weep at night, give me joy in the morning.
Let me rest in the thought of Thy love,
pardon for sin, my title to heaven,
my future unspotted state.
I am an unworthy recipient of Thy grace.
I often disesteem Thy blood and slight Thy love,
but can in repentance draw water
from the wells of Thy joyous forgiveness.
Let my heart leap towards the eternal sabbath,
where the work of redemption, sanctification,
preservation, glorification
is finished and perfected forever,
where Thou wilt rejoice over me with joy.
There is no joy like the joy of heaven,
for in that state are no sad divisions, unchristian quarrels,
contentions, evil designs, weariness, hunger, cold,
sadness, sin, suffering, persecutions, toils of duty.
O healthful place where none is sick!
O happy land where all are kings!
O holy assembly where all are priests!
How free a state where none are servants except to Thee!
Bring me speedily to the land of joy.