Sweet Hour of Prayer

Hymns that were sung when I was a child were often slow and laborious - downright boring.  Of course they were.  To a child whose greatest concern in life is not to upset his parents anything slow or peaceful is tedious.  As an adult, slow times are a respite from the world.  A moment of meditative reflection can be a delicious comfort.  

One of those hymns that was tedious as a child is exceptionally comforting to me as an adult.  "Sweet Hour of Prayer" was written and composed by W.W. Walford and William B. Bradbury.  It speaks of the beauty of prayer in light of those burdens of life.  

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.  

There are lessons in this verse if I would but listen to them.  With song, we instruct one another and there are valuable lessons to be relished here.  Is it a literal hour or a general time for prayer?  Both would be wonderful in practice.  I wish it called me from the world - to my discredit, it is often my last resort instead of a calling.  God calls, even commands for us to cast our cares upon Him.  But when I do yield to it, what sweet relief.  And again, if I resorted to prayer more frequently, it would be an effective escape from temptation, for the human will is often found lacking and prayer effectively bolsters our resolve.

Even the pose itself offers relief.  The bowed head and bent knees suggest honor for God and the spirit is lead to honor.  The hands clasp together in hope, clench more tightly with the intensity of the petition and open with the intent of the offering.  A body bowed in reverence guides the spirit to hand over the will in recognition of His power.  Altogether, the offering is tactile, spiritual and mental and one is left with a sense of relief.  The burden shifts, even if slightly.  The human will submitted to a Greater Will then feels that someone else is in control - it's not all on me or up to me.  The prostrate man can rise anew and refreshed.  What a sweet hour!

A meditative state away from the cares of our condition.  What a sweet, sweet escape.