Sweet Hour of Prayer

Ok--I confess, I am not the biggest fan of that song. But I am a big fan of prayer. I bet you are too. And I bet both of us would say we could do with some more of it than we've currently got in our lives. 

The church here in Jinotega has a a beautiful tradition. They meet on Sundays for bible study and worship, they meet on Tuesday nights for bible study, ladies and youth groups meet Saturdays for special studies, but on Thursdays they meet for prayer. 

And it's really for prayer. It's not fancy, it's not cool, it's not ceremonious--it's just a body of believers spending 45 minutes to an hour praying together for all the things we can think of. Here's how it typically goes: 

sing a couple of songs while the stragglers arrive

someone reads a scripture--often from Psalms and makes a few comments to get us centered

the "MC" will call on a man to come lead a prayer and give him a topic: this church, the work of the mission, the women at Casa Materna, the youth, our country, the sick and those who are struggling, our sick and struggling that we know by name, special projects, thanksgiving, thanksgiving, thanksgiving.

Every man always begins his topic prayer with thankfulness. Habit? perhaps. Right? yes. 

When the "gringo men" are in town, their prayers often begin in Spanish and end in English. I can't help but notice that the part these guys are most proficient with in Spanish is the thankful part of their prayer. But Spanish or English--everyone prays--the language is so insignificant. When we are really pouring our hearts out to our Father the words are such an encumbrance. 

I have had this conversation many many times with various North Americans who come here: "Can you believe all the things Mision Para Cristo is doing/has accomplished? It's so clear that it is God at work, since surely no humans  could make all this happen!"

And so true! 

But do not imagine that this habit of gratitude is insignificant. Or that this town's tradition of prayer, and the amazing blessings God has poured out on this place are unrelated! 

^{Ephesians 6:18} And pray in the Spirit at all times. Pray with all kinds of prayers, and ask for everything you need. To do this you must always be ready. Never give up. Always pray for all of God’s people.

My Daddy always told me to look at a verse in some kind of context. Do you see what comes right before? (link back and read, it's not cheating.) That whole "armor of God" stuff. Sure, I've read that before. I've spent summers with kids talking about that armor piece by piece--complete with cardboard cut-outs. But I stopped at the 'sword of the spirit' in vs. 17. 

Oops. Because do you see how vs. 18 begins? "AND pray in the spirit..."  Go look again at how this "armor of God" stuff begins:

^{Ephesians 6:9} Last of all, I say this. Be strong in the Lord and use the strength he gives.

How can I read all about how to use the strength of God, and stop before I get to the part about prayer?

How 'bout you? Are you like me? Are you a big fan of prayer, but not well practiced with having enough of it in you 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!

~William Walford