Prayer

Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire,
Unuttered or expressed;
The motion of a hidden fire
That trembles in the breast.
Prayer is the burden of a sigh,
The falling of a tear
The upward glancing of an eye,
When none but God is near.
Prayer is the simplest form of speech
That infant lips can try;
Prayer, the sublimest strains
That reach The Majesty on high.
Prayer is the Christian’s vital breath,
The Christian’s native air,
His watchword at the gates of death;
He enters Heav’n with prayer.
Prayer is the contrite sinner’s voice,
Returning from his ways,
While angels in their songs rejoice
And cry, “Behold, he prays!”
The saints in prayer appear as one
In word, in deed, and mind,
While with the Father and the Son
Sweet fellowship they find.
No prayer is made by man alone
The Holy Spirit pleads,
And Jesus, on th’eternal throne,
For sinners intercedes.
O Thou by Whom we come to God,
The Life, the Truth, the Way,
The path of prayer Thyself hast trod:
Lord, teach us how to pray.

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by James Montgomery

Just a few weeks ago I desperately said a prayer...I was having one of those days where nothing seems to go right...and I needed to stop and pray...I prayed that God would make His presence felt again in my life. I also prayed some specific things (I don't often do that because I hate making a 'wishlist' for God). But this time was different...There was something I needed to know...basically it involved somebody getting in contact with me ASAP...and I had no idea when they would. So I asked God...then checked my e-mail...and there it was...and e-mail from the person I had prayed about!

Moral: God answers prayer...pray whenever and wherever! Pastor Bylsma once said "never ignore the impulse to pray". That is the theme of the hymn written above here, and that is the theme of my little story...

1 Thessalonians 5:17 "Pray without ceasing"