Sweet Hour of Prayer

"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..." I've always loved this old hymn, but as I've gotten a little older, it means much more to me. I've always understood it, but lately, it seems to have come alive all over again for me.
I love the old hymns anyway, and this one is a lovely example of how much meaning can be packed into four verses of a song. I have come to realize more and more, that going before the Lord in prayer is what keeps me leveled and balanced. It's what connects me to other believers. It's something I can do for someone when there seems to be no other solution. It's something I can for someone I don't even know. I can always pray.
It's been a long time since I turned the car radio on in the morning. I'd rather have that time quiet, and apart. It's easier to focus on God when the radio isn't blaring at me.
In prayer, I find everything seems to equalize, even if I'm praying about something I'm struggling with. Simply putting the situation before the Lord changes it. He speaks most often to me in that still, small voice, and I have to be still and silent in prayer to hear Him.
Prayer is also one of the best ways for me to exercise unselfishness. In bringing the needs of others before the Lord, I am putting their situations before my own. Our culture today emphasizes taking care of self and putting self first, but I function best when I put the Lord first and attend to what He wants. When I do that, I end up taking care of myself, but also being concerned for other people. A faithful prayer life helps keep me grounded in this.
It's not easy to keep an active prayer life. I'm apt to say, "O.K. Lord. Bless so and so and this person and bless my family and me, and here's a need to keep in mind, and Amen." But that's not enough for me. I have to make an effort to pray with intention and with focus. It's not that prayer is difficult, but it is difficult for me to pull away from other pursuits to get on my knees. I'm always glad I did. I always feel better for doing it. But I have to make prayer a priority in my life, for it to work and to keep my relationship with the Lord fresh.
And this hymn, composed by the blind minister, W.W. Walford, reminds me that my time in prayer is some of the sweetest time I will ever spend. "I'll cast on Him my every care, and wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!" Thank the Lord for His gift of prayer! Amen.