Prayer Meeting

I was asked to lead out in the praise and worship portion of the Wednesday evening church prayer meeting—for the entire month. I gladly accepted because music is my passion.

As I was looking through different songs in order to choose which ones the congregation could sing, I was impressed to select “How Sweet Are the Tidings” for the opening song of the prayer meeting. The third verse especially touches me:

 There we’ll meet ne’er to part in our happy Eden home. . . .

From the north, from the south, all the ransomed shall come,

 And worship our heavenly King.*

 My mind went back to July 1990, when I was able to attend just one day of my church’s global convocation held every five years. That year it was held in Indiana. The day I attended, I caught a glimpse of what I think heaven will be like. I saw beautiful, happy faces as people greeted one another with hugs and kisses as if they were longtime friends. I saw people from all over the world greeting one another with phrases such as “I love you” and “God loves you.” What a beautiful picture that was! That was one of the happiest days of my life.

The chorus to the hymn I chose as our prayer meeting’s opening song states, “He’s coming, coming, coming soon, I know.”

 So the question I must ask myself is, “Am I ready for Jesus to come?” The cares of this world can cause us to be sad and self-absorbed. Not much good news is shown on television. So let us keep God’s promises deep within our hearts as He prepares us for heaven’s prayer meeting: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you” (Isaiah 41:10, NIV).

Patricia Hines