Sweet Hour of Prayer
I fasted today, to be able to feel closer to my Heavenly Father... I've felt a little distant lately. Even as I've prayed, even as I've studied, neither of which have been as frequently as I like...
I heard an answer as we sang this song in Relief Society...
1. 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!
And oft escaped the tempter's snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!
2. Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer!
Thy wings shall my petition bear
To him whose truth and faithfulness
Engage the waiting soul to bless.
And since he bids me seek his face,
Believe his word, and trust his grace,
I'll cast on him my ev'ry care
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!
I'll cast on him my ev'ry care
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!
Text: Attr. to William W. Walford, 1772-1850, alt.
Music: William B. Bradbury, 1816-1868, alt.
I'm thankful for sweet music that speaks to me. Kneel down and pray. Leave this world for a minute and commune with my Father. There is peace, comfort, strength, clarity, organization, priority, calm, power and truth.
How often do you pray? Occasionally, when troubles hit, over dinner, before bed?
I'd like to think that I pray relatively often, but as of late I haven't. I've let it slip down my priority list, and thus my feeling of distance.
A few weeks ago my friend began their journey with her mom's discovery of cancer.
As we left our early morning bus stop discussion I told her that I'd continue to pray for her family... and I have. She mentioned that her sister had been going to church to pray, even if 'her kind' aren't welcome there...
That instantly broke my heart and I called to her (to remind her sister) that our Heavenly Father loves each of us, and wants to hear from each of us... and we don't have to go to a church to kneel down and pray to Him. We can do it in our homes, wherever and whenever we need Him.
He wants to hear from us, and sometimes the tears without words, the reaching without speaking, the quiet thoughts are better than shouting a halleluiah! Those are the times we are seeking and if we are quiet can feel Him, hear Him answer in return.
In 'Our Living Gospel', by Wendell O Rich he says,
"Prayer is the right of every person, no matter who or where he may be. Through prayer, each may approach God for himself and there express the sincere desires and feelings of his heart."
Richard L Evans said this...
"When I speak of prayer I earnestly desire to be understood. I do not refer to those polished masterpieces of literature, couched in the flawless language of other men and preserved in classified order in beautifully bound books to be read with varying degree of feeling and sincerity on specified occasions with stereotyped formality. I speak of the prayer that is the outcry of a human heart brought face to face with an urgent need; I speak of the prayer born of earnest gratitude; I speak of the prayer that petitions in humility for wisdom and guidance- - the prayer which, though it took not the form of words, would yet be understood by him who hears all prayers and bestows all blessings.
Even when the thing prayed for is not granted; even when prayer isn't followed by objective result, men are conscious of having been heard. A prayer sent on its way leaves within certain assurance that there has been communion, that there has been, somewhere, a meeting of intelligence. Supplication and gratitude have gone out. Comfort and understanding have returned.
To pray is not as though one shouted into a cavern, to hear only the return of his own voice, the echo of his own thoughts.
To pray is rather as the quiet, thoughtful communion of close friends, who exchange intimate confidences and discern each the desire of the other, even when they speak not audibly all that comes to mind. To pray is to find God, and know that He is."
This is what has been missing for me. This is where I will focus this week. I have a feeling if I can get back to this, everything else will even out and find it's rightful place.
How do you feel about prayer?