Sweet Hour of Prayer
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I love conducting the music at the weekly chapel service my husband and I held. As part of our ministry, my husband and I have gone to nursing homes and assisted living facilities. One of the favorite songs I sing with the residents is “Sweet Hour of Prayer,” which was written by William Walford. After singing those beautiful words, I asked the residents if they had ever spent an entire hour in prayer. Most of them looked at me with blank stares.
But one of the older men, John, sitting in his wheelchair, slowly affirmed that he had with the nodding of his head and a whispered yes that warmed my heart.
As this man knows, the private time we spend with Jesus is so precious and an honor. Yet most of us rush through our prayers with a hurried attitude so we can get to “more important things.” We should be more like James, the brother of Jesus.
He was known as “camel knees” because he “was frequently found upon his knees begging forgiveness for the people, so that his knees became hard like those of a camel, in consequence of his constantly bending them in his worship of God, and asking forgiveness for the people.” He was well aware of the necessity of spending much time in prayer for himself and for others. As we go about our daily routines, do we find ourselves too busy to pray? Prayer must be the very fabric of our lives for us to succeed in doing the Lord’s work.
One of my favorite authors states, “God’s people should now make mighty intercession to him for help. It is the privilege of every believer, first to talk with God and then, as God’s mouthpiece, to talk with others. In order that we may have something to impart, we must daily receive light and blessing.” Do you have something that the Holy Spirit has laid upon your heart? Take time today to pray about it and discover the power and genuine joy that God wants to give. After all, an hour is not long at all when you are spending it with the Lord.
Just ask John.
Karen M. Phillips
