Song:
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.
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 every care,
and wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer.
[WORDS: William Walford, 1845]
[MUSIC: William B. Bradbury, 1861]
Paul's Prayer of Thankfulness.
Philippians 1:3-11 New Century Version
I thank my God every time I remember you, always praying with joy for all of you. I thank God for the help you gave me while I preached the Good News--help you gave from the first day you believed until now. God began doing a good work in you, and I am sure He will continue it until it is finished when Jesus Christ comes again. And I know that I am right to think like this about all of you, because I have you in my heart. All of you share in God's grace with me while I am in prison and while I am defending and proving the truth of the Good News. God knows that I want to see you very much, because I love all of you with the love of Christ Jesus. This is my prayer for you: that your love will grow more and more; that you will have knowledge and understanding with your love; that you will see the difference between good and bad and will choose the good; that you will be pure and without wrong for the coming of Christ; that you will do many good things with the help of Christ to bring glory and praise of God.
Dorothy:
This is the final of the four great N.T. prayers of Paul and he was inspired by the Holy Spirit to pray for Philippians Christians as well as for us today. Paul pray that our love will grow more because love for other has a very powerful testimony we could ever give. Also Paul pray that we will do many good things with the help of Christ to bring glory and praise to God.
The song, 'Sweet Hour of Prayer' was a comfort to Paul when he spend time with God and to pray for many churches that he had helped with before he went to prison. Paul's suffering and troubles help spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. He wrote several letters while he was in prison. Philippians 1:14 "Because I am in prison, most of the believers have become more bold in Christ and are not afraid to speak the word of God." May the Lord touches our hearts to become bold for Christ.
