Sweet Minute of Prayer

We've been focussing on prayer at the Good News Chapel, in preparation for our upcoming revival meetings. Unbeknownst to them, Mel and Murray, part of our leadership team, have missed a couple Sundays while travelling. Mel shared with the staff that they had been listening to sermons on their road trip, and one really impacted her.

It was a sermon by Irwin Lutzer, based on this hymn:

Sweet Hour of Prayer,
William W. Walford, 1845

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 lofty 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!”

Mel challenged us as staff to join her in recognizing the power of prayer, acknowledging that most of us don't do enough, and then asked if any of us would be willing to share a weekly "hour of prayer" with her.

Each person interested must find an accountability partner, and Mission requests will be sent out by her to each staff member committed to his hour of intercession and worship.

No doubt, if you are not used to this level of prayer, it will be difficult to reach an hour, but as Paula pointed out, once this hour of prayer is part of your weekly routine, you will notice and miss it very much if it is gone!

If you have something you would like our staff team of prayer warriors to pray for, or would like to join as a prayer partner, please don't hesitate to give Mel a call, or email the Mission to Mel's attention.