Day 12: Sweet Hour of Prayer

Sweet Hour of Prayer [Amazon Music Link]

Christians nowadays tend to use words like "devotions" or "quiet-time" to describe their daily time spent in prayer and bible study. It doesn't matter what you call it but I prefer the phrase "sweet hour of prayer." I don't mean that it is necessarily 60 minutes long, maybe you schedule 30 minutes or 10 minutes to dedicate the day to your Lord. However, at that early morning hour, it is certainly sweet to start off your day with the right perspective and to start off with prayer. When I write these little thoughts, I know that most people skim over the words. I understand. But, the words of this song are really worth giving a think. Jump down to the lyrics and meditate on what your "sweet hour of prayer" really is.

Psalms 6:9 The Lord has heard my supplication; The Lord will receive my prayer.

Historical Background

William Walford, a blind lay preacher in the small hamlet of Coleshill, Warwickshire, England wrote these words around 1842. He was intensely private about prayer seeking refuge from temptations and pouring out the depth of his soul before God. He shared this poem with a Congregational minister friend, Thomas Salmon, who appreciated the words so much that he showed them to the editor of the New Your Observer in 1845. They were subsequently printed, put to music by William Bradbury (who also composed Just As I Am, The Solid Rock, and He Leadeth Me) and have appeared in most hymnals ever since.

Lyrics

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!

Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer!
The joys I feel, the bliss I share,
Of those whose anxious spirits burn
With strong desires for Thy return!
With such I hasten to the place
Where God my Savior shows His face,
And gladly take my station there,
And wait for Thee, sweet hour of prayer!

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 every care,
And wait for Thee, sweet hour of prayer!

Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer!
May I Thy consolation share,
Till, from Mount Pisgah's lofthy height,
I view my home and take my flight:
This robe of flesh I'll drop and rise
To seize the everlasting prize;
And shout, while passing through the air,
"Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer!"

Abundant Life Fellowship Version

Radiance A Cappella Version

Nat King Cole Version

Final Thoughts

There's entirely too much going on in this world and we need to slow down and focus on the most important things first, in that sweet hour of prayer early in the morning. I get up at 4:15AM to have time that is quiet before the kids get up, before exercise, before breakfast and getting ready for work. I'd love to hear about your time. Comment below what special time and place you have your sweet hour of prayer. What kinds of things do you do during it? Prayer? Scripture Reading? Note taking? Worship songs? Scripture memorization? What else?

Check out my analysis of these other hymns, if you're interested:

Comments

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