Sweet Hour of PrayerSample

No Other

When I got saved over two decades ago, because of how difficult I felt prayer was, I was convinced that there must be an alternative to prayer. I thought, “If this thing is this difficult, then there has to be an alternative”. So, I began to research an alternative to prayer. My conclusion was, and still is, that there is no alternative to prayer! So, I chose to face it and master it. And then I discovered that prayer is delightful. Prayer is the fragrance of the sweetness of life. The unexplainable beauty that fills your life when you have truly prayed is so beautiful. It keeps you coming back to the place of prayer.

If only we will pray, we will be shocked at what the outcome will be. A lady came to see me, and she was in a lot of anguish. After listening to her “lamentations” about all that she was going through, I asked, “Have you prayed about this problem?” She responded, “No… that is why I came to see you.” In other words, you are supposed to do the praying on my behalf. I said to her, and I am saying to you, “YOU have to pray!” I told her to go home, get alone with God, and repeat all that she had said and done in my office before God. Take your tears, your passionate petitions, and your lamentations to God in your secret place. You will be amazed at the results.

If only we would pray - a lot of the problems in life, marriage, family, business, career, and relationships are largely because we do not pray. The Bible tells us that when men slept, the enemy came and sowed tares (weeds). You cannot afford not to pray. I grew up around a praying grandmother. I must confess that how frequently she prayed used to upset me back then. Not only would she pray, but she would insist we all pray too. However, today, I am grateful for those days and her prayers. That foundation infused into me the habit of prayer and a love for hymns. There is no alternative to prayer. You just have to pray!

Prayer is talking to God, in the Name of Jesus Christ, His Son, and by the power of the Holy Spirit. Worship is a big part of prayer because it shifts our focus from whatever the situation is, to God and we are better positioned to pray. What makes prayer enjoyable? How do we go into God’s Presence and leave wanting more? Over the next few days, we will get into the Power of Prayer, the Pattern of Prayer, the Privilege of Prayer, and the Pleasure of Prayer. As we experience these four P’s, we will discover that prayer is really enjoyable, sweet even! As part of the daily reading, we will find stanzas from the hymn, ‘Sweet Hour of Prayer’. I encourage you to meditate on the words and let it birth in you a desire to seek God’s face. Do your children see you worship God and pray?

Hymn:

Sweet hour of prayer!

Sweet hour of prayer!

That calls me from a world of care,

And bids me at my Father’s throne,

Make all my wants and wishes known.

In seasons of distress and grief,

My soul has often found relief

And oft escaped the tempter’s snare,

By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!