Sweet Hour of Prayer.

[Mudcat]

I was thinking about this particular song today and did a bit Googling about the authorship of it and so forth. It has been a favorite in my own baptist denomination and I was pleasantly surprised to see Walford's lyrics in the LDS Hymnal... #142.

Walford seemed to be speaking from a common place point of his era when talking about his "Sweet Hour of Prayer".

In this day and age spending an hour doing one thing seems a bit out of the way... Take cooking for example. If I were born in Wallace's time, it would take me quite a bit to make Ravioli for my kiddos. But thanks to more modern food preservation methods, a microwave and Chef Boyardee in less than 3 minutes I can do it.

I wonder if our modern expectations of how quickly things should happen are reflected in our prayer life as well.

edit add...

Why do you typically pray? habit, need, etc..

I see some inconsistencies in my prayer life and what my prayer life should be. Since realizing this, I am wondering do you have similar issues?

Regards,

Mudcat

[frankenstein]

for a time, I didn't pray for years. the weirdest thing though, I would wake up very frequently at 1152 (block numbers) the 5 and 2 make a cross shape, I always took that as some sort of sign.

I pray night and day, but not for very long.

[selek]

I pray frequently throughout the day, but seldom for very long- usually less than a minute or so.

Most often, I pray in gratitude, but many times to seek God's sheltering hand over me and mine.

I will also (perhaps somewhat irreverently) offer comments to God regarding his sense of humor and the things that take place in my life.

Finally as I prepare for bed, I will often engage in a review of the day, asking for forgiveness for my sins and the strength to do better.

[Heartleap]

My Mind is constantly on God through out my day, I say many quick prayers some longer prayers and about 4 times a week, prayers that last over an hour. I pray to worship him. To get my heart right with him, to hear what he wants me to do for him. To guide me with those he places around me so that they can see his love. I pray to get in his presence. I pray with people and for people. I also pray for God to show me what he wants me to tell others. The focus of my longer prayers are mainly is to give my heart to him and express my love for him. He then reciprocates and it is awesome.

Heartleap...

[Libs]

I say quick prayers throughout the day, for needs, for guidance, to thank, etc., but lately I have also been doing something called contemplative prayer. This is a sort of meditation upon God...putting your full focus on God. It's to learn to listen and not always do all the talking, myself. I, usually, do this for at least 20-30 minutes, before I go to bed. I've been doing this for a couple of months and really enjoy it. The practice has brought me much closer to God, and I am more in the habit, now, of listening for that small still voice. It has also helped me become much more peaceful within and in my everyday relationships with others.

[nicolasconnault]

I say quick prayers throughout the day, for needs, for guidance, to thank, etc., but lately I have also been doing something called contemplative prayer. This is a sort of meditation upon God...putting your full focus on God. It's to learn to listen and not always do all the talking, myself. I, usually, do this for at least 20-30 minutes, before I go to bed. I've been doing this for a couple of months and really enjoy it. The practice has brought me much closer to God, and I am more in the habit, now, of listening for that small still voice. It has also helped me become much more peaceful within and in my everyday relationships with others.

Thank you. Really! I need to read that, and I will give it a try. Don't hesitate to PM me or start a thread on that topic to explain a bit further. I find it hard to clear my mind, especially when I'm exhausted at the end of the day, I just keep falling asleep

[Libs]

Thank you. Really! I need to read that, and I will give it a try. Don't hesitate to PM me or start a thread on that topic to explain a bit further. I find it hard to clear my mind, especially when I'm exhausted at the end of the day, I just keep falling asleep

There is a lot of information out there on the internet about it. I have to warn you that it is a controversial practice, among Christians, probably because it very closely resembles eastern style meditation done by Buddhists and other eastern religions.

The basic practice is to sit comfortably either on the floor or in a chair (I sit in a chair), relax and focus on a word (or words) that are sacred to you. "Jesus Christ" or just "God", perhaps "Yahweh" or "Jehovah", or "Heavenly Father", and let all other thoughts rest or pass through. Relax and breathe in and out and focus on your sacred name. Your mind is gonna wander like crazy, at first, but it will settle, if you give it time.

Here is some history of contemplative prayer:

http://www.contemplativeprayer.net/

[nicolasconnault]

There is a lot of information out there on the internet about it. I have to warn you that it is a controversial practice, among Christians, probably because it very closely resembles eastern style meditation done by Buddhists and other eastern religions.

The basic practice is to sit comfortably either on the floor or in a chair (I sit in a chair), relax and focus on a word (or words) that are sacred to you. "Jesus Christ" or just "God", perhaps "Yahweh" or "Jehovah", or "Heavenly Father", and let all other thoughts rest or pass through. Relax and breathe in and out and focus on your sacred name. Your mind is gonna wander like crazy, at first, but it will settle, if you give it time.

Here is some history of contemplative prayer:

http://www.contemplativeprayer.net/

Thanks, I will look that up. I don't find this controversial at all, I think it's fine to focus on sacred words in order to meditate and re-order the mess we have between our ears. I think my wife will also be interested. I remember reading some talks by various apostles about meditation and its benefits, so I'm keen to learn more about it.

[Libs]

Thanks, I will look that up. I don't find this controversial at all, I think it's fine to focus on sacred words in order to meditate and re-order the mess we have between our ears. I think my wife will also be interested. I remember reading some talks by various apostles about meditation and its benefits, so I'm keen to learn more about it.

That's great.

I think you will enjoy it. I was going to mention, since you said you are very tired at night, you may want to try this in the morning, when you're fresh. I'm a night owl, so I'm very alert at night and this helps me relax. But, you may have more success with it in the morning (or if you have some time during your day - lunch hour or what-not)..

[oats]

Ideally I pray out of love for God and thankfulness.

However there has also begun to be a more self serving side to prayer, and I don't know that it has grown proportionally with my sentiment of gratitude. Nor do I know if it is appropriate.

You see, I've found that prayer helps me. When I combine prayer with searching the scriptures, seeking in general, and pondering the desired question I usually come up with a satisfying and substantial answers. For that reason I know what to do when I desire something, and that seems to me the time when I engage in the most sincere prayer. Now the desires are not entire selfish - I don't pray for money or anything like that - but they are self serving because I want to know what/how to do something that will often be a benefit to others than myself.

But I'm not a very habitual prayer. I have a lot of gratitude but it seems to have plateaued and become so normal that it makes me feel a bit ungrateful on balance with the reasons I have to be grateful. I also find that if I pray out of habit at specific times the sentiment of gratitude diminishes.

My personal question is: What way does God want me to show gratitude through prayer? Through disciplined habitual prayer or through sporadic/whimsical prayer when I feel extremely grateful?

To obey is better than to sacrifice, but is sincerity better than routine obedience? Does the frequency of sincere prayer happen more often when we are being obedient and praying more often?

Not sure how this intertwines with your thoughts Mudcat. But I'm glad you got me thinking of questions on the topic. One of the goals for the new year is to develop discipline in prayer and scripture study. These questions motivate the explorer in me.

[nicolasconnault]

Now the desires are not entire selfish - I don't pray for money or anything like that - but they are self serving because I want to know what/how to do something that will often be a benefit to others than myself.

I don't think these are self-serving. Wanting to be blessed with a better ability to bless others is not a selfish or self-serving desire, IMO, unless you want to help others to get their praise and adulation (which we all enjoy a little bit at least, I'm sure!).

But I'm not a very habitual prayer. I have a lot of gratitude but it seems to have plateaued and become so normal that it makes me feel a bit ungrateful on balance with the reasons I have to be grateful. I also find that if I pray out of habit at specific times the sentiment of gratitude diminishes.

My personal question is: What way does God want me to show gratitude through prayer? Through disciplined habitual prayer or through sporadic/whimsical prayer when I feel extremely grateful?

I think it's a bit of both, although I would say that it depends on the person. Praying a specific times helps you to concentrate and consider what things you have reason to be thankful for. If you, like me, tend to find that you are saying thank you for the same things in each of your prayers, maybe we ought to think a bit harder about what we can be thankful for. Then, additionally, when a particular wave of gratitude overcomes you during the day, say a silent prayer of gratitude Now I'd better practice what I preach

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

I was thinking about this particular song today and did a bit Googling about the authorship of it and so forth. It has been a favorite in my own baptist denomination and I was pleasantly surprised to see Walford's lyrics in the LDS Hymnal... #142.

Walford seemed to be speaking from a common place point of his era when talking about his "Sweet Hour of Prayer".

In this day and age spending an hour doing one thing seems a bit out of the way... Take cooking for example. If I were born in Wallace's time, it would take me quite a bit to make Ravioli for my kiddos. But thanks to more modern food preservation methods, a microwave and Chef Boyardee in less than 3 minutes I can do it.

I wonder if our modern expectations of how quickly things should happen are reflected in our prayer life as well.

edit add...

Why do you typically pray? habit, need, etc..

I see some inconsistencies in my prayer life and what my prayer life should be. Since realizing this, I am wondering do you have similar issues?

Regards,

Mudcat

Too often myself and God are not on speaking terms

[Vance]

I didn't see the choices that I felt applied to me.

Not often enough.

Not long enough.

[Zakuska]

Ideally I pray out of love for God and thankfulness.

I was going to saw the same thing, that the majority of my prayers consits of thankfulness for the many blessing I have received.

Then I pray for others.

Then I finally get to me, If Im needing Guidance or health or something.

Of course there is always grace on the food, where you follow kind of the same pattern and add the blessing on the food for health.

1 Tim 4

4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer

[Mudcat]

Thanks for all the replies so far everyone.

Lately my prayer life has not been what it should be. There are always prayers that I participate in daily with my family, meals, bedtime and on the way to school. However, I haven't been spending much in the way of one on one prayer with God for a bit now. Like most relationships, I think the health of our relationship can be determined by taking a look at our communication.

In the not to distant past, I would pray quite often in the car, as my job gives me quite a bit of windshield time. Things have been busy at home and work most of this time in car was diverted.

As I have been reflecting on this, I am realizing that I tend to pray when I have the time to pray. I suppose you could say that God gets penciled in to my schedule. Doesn't seem like a good attitude when I think of all he has done for me.

I am going to try to turn that around. I suppose we all have our ups and downs in the time we study, pray, spend in service and so forth.

I suppose I have been somewhat narcissistic of late. I remember times when I would live through the day in tune with God and seeking opportunity to achieve his will rather than my own and hopefully with his help I will be successful returning to such a state of being.

Again, thanks for the input so far.

Respectfully,

Mudcat

[Jeff K.]

I hate to say it but of late my prayers have been quick, perfunctory and without the connection of the spirit that I seek when I really need something. I appreciate this thread because it reminds me of what I need to do, even when the need may not be apparent.

[blueadept]

Hey Mudcat,

A couple of thoughts.....

In regards to prayer life, I relate to the 'windshield time' that it's a good opportunity for some quality prayer time. I also don't stress too badly when it feels like I'm 'penciling in' God throughout the week since I have a regular prayer hour at church to do some meditative/contemplative type of prayer at least once a week.

The issue for me comes down that window in my day that I need to be most prayerful and I'm not. I always start out a day well. It's the end of the day that I struggle.

We all have our burdens especially in regards to our individual prayer life.

[Thunderfire]

Great questions to ponder!

Many years ago I was deeply convicted with a Book of Mormon verses which speaks of "praying without ceasing". I pondered and even prayed about what this meant. How is it possible to pray continually? The answer for me came with a new paradigm shift regarding prayer.

For me, to pray without ceasing means to develop a prayer life that is a two way conversation with God. To remember that it is not for me to do all the talking, but to spend a greater amount of time listening. To always be aware of God "in and through all things" and that my prayer life needed to be more centered on listening to God then to tell him things he already knew!

God knows me better than I know myself. He knows my faults, my sins, my trials, and what I am about to face. For that matter, we are told in Romans (8:26) that we do not know what we are to pray for. So my prayer life has transformed into a "communion lifestyle" with God. To pray without ceasing or rather understanding how prayer is just as much listening for God to speak to me and my desire to speak to him.

[Libs]

Very much agree with you, Thunder.

[Pahoran]

I was thinking about this particular song today and did a bit Googling about the authorship of it and so forth. It has been a favorite in my own baptist denomination and I was pleasantly surprised to see Walford's lyrics in the LDS Hymnal... #142.

Walford seemed to be speaking from a common place point of his era when talking about his "Sweet Hour of Prayer".

In this day and age spending an hour doing one thing seems a bit out of the way...

I think there may be a subtle semantic misunderstanding here.

The "hour of prayer" of the title is the time of day for prayer, not the sixty minutes of prayer. This is just an old-fashioned way of speaking; another song that was once very popular here begins, "Now is the hour when we must say goodbye." Nobody who sung along to it expected to spend more than a few minutes saying their farewells.

Regards,

Pahoran

[Jeff K.]

Great questions to ponder!

Many years ago I was deeply convicted with a Book of Mormon verses which speaks of "praying without ceasing". I pondered and even prayed about what this meant. How is it possible to pray continually? The answer for me came with a new paradigm shift regarding prayer.

For me, to pray without ceasing means to develop a prayer life that is a two way conversation with God. To remember that it is not for me to do all the talking, but to spend a greater amount of time listening. To always be aware of God "in and through all things" and that my prayer life needed to be more centered on listening to God then to tell him things he already knew!

God knows me better than I know myself. He knows my faults, my sins, my trials, and what I am about to face. For that matter, we are told in Romans (8:26) that we do not know what we are to pray for. So my prayer life has transformed into a "communion lifestyle" with God. To pray without ceasing or rather understanding how prayer is just as much listening for God to speak to me and my desire to speak to him.

Some very good points to ponder.

[Fly Fisherman]

There is a lot of information out there on the internet about it. I have to warn you that it is a controversial practice, among Christians, probably because it very closely resembles eastern style meditation done by Buddhists and other eastern religions.

The basic practice is to sit comfortably either on the floor or in a chair (I sit in a chair), relax and focus on a word (or words) that are sacred to you. "Jesus Christ" or just "God", perhaps "Yahweh" or "Jehovah", or "Heavenly Father", and let all other thoughts rest or pass through. Relax and breathe in and out and focus on your sacred name. Your mind is gonna wander like crazy, at first, but it will settle, if you give it time.

Here is some history of contemplative prayer:

http://www.contemplativeprayer.net/

I've been doing something similar for years now, and it is quite effective for me. It is just my own version of meditation and getting into "the gap" phase of meditation. Some eastern-style meditation teachers talk about "the gap" while clearing your mind and meditating - the gap being that state of when you are to a point where outside thoughts are gone and you are "in between" thought - the gap. Hard to describe, but wonderful when you experience it. While it is not my first way of prayer, and I am not sure I would even consider this that I do a "prayer" (thus different from yours), it is definitely a part of my morning time when scripture reading and prayer are done after which this "gap" meditation is something I do. I concentrate totally on my breathing, and sometimes utter a word to get down "into the gap" - an extremely relaxing point for me.

Thanks for the suggestion - turning this into a prayer while focusing on a word such as Jesus is something that I will have to include in this.

I have to warn you that it is a controversial practice, among Christians, probably because it very closely resembles eastern style meditation done by Buddhists and other eastern religions.

Admittedly, I was a bit hesitant to do this at first years ago, mainly because I naively felt like I was doing a different form of worship and thought it was too "eastern" so to speak. But now that I am a bit wiser, this form of meditation for me really is more of a relaxing mental exercise and I don't feel "eastern" at all about it - not that that is a bad thing at all - but it really feels quite natural and refreshing to me now.

[Libs]

I've been doing something similar for years now, and it is quite effective for me. It is just my own version of meditation and getting into "the gap" phase of meditation. Some eastern-style meditation teachers talk about "the gap" while clearing your mind and meditating - the gap being that state of when you are to a point where outside thoughts are gone and you are "in between" thought - the gap. Hard to describe, but wonderful when you experience it. While it is not my first way of prayer, and I am not sure I would even consider this that I do a "prayer" (thus different from yours), it is definitely a part of my morning time when scripture reading and prayer are done after which this "gap" meditation is something I do. I concentrate totally on my breathing, and sometimes utter a word to get down "into the gap" - an extremely relaxing point for me.

Thanks for the suggestion - turning this into a prayer while focusing on a word such as Jesus is something that I will have to include in this.

Admittedly, I was a bit hesitant to do this at first years ago, mainly because I naively felt like I was doing a different form of worship and thought it was too "eastern" so to speak. But now that I am a bit wiser, this form of meditation for me really is more of a relaxing mental exercise and I don't feel "eastern" at all about it - not that that is a bad thing at all - but it really feels quite natural and refreshing to me now.

I think it's wonderful that you have allowed yourself to do this. I really think it has health benefits (just the relaxation technique alone), as well as being a wonderful way to commune with God.

Dr. Wayne Dyer has written a book called "Getting in the Gap". Have you read it? Not sure, but that may have been where the term orginated.

[Garden Girl]

Thanks, I will look that up. I don't find this controversial at all, I think it's fine to focus on sacred words in order to meditate and re-order the mess we have between our ears. I think my wife will also be interested. I remember reading some talks by various apostles about meditation and its benefits, so I'm keen to learn more about it.

Hello Nicolas... I used to go with a friend to a meditation group. While everyone else was seeking to connect to the oneness of "universal love" etc etc, I used the time to pray to my Heavenly Father in an atmosphere of peace, with beautiful music playing softly in the background. I really enjoyed those times, and it gave me much peace and comfort to pray in that environment.

MUDCAT... Hope this finds you well and the family also. My first real prayer of the day is after Bob-cat comes in and gets me up. I have to put something in his dish or there is no peace... so then I sit and say my "morning" prayers. These can vary in length... then throughout the day I pray often about various things as they happen, or come to mind, etc. These are fairly short as they are just sort of always in my mind and heart... they are just a part of me as I go about my daily activities and life. Then at night as I get into bed, I say my "night" prayers, mainly of gratitude and asking for protection and peace through the night... that my home will stand sturdy in the elements, etc etc. Overall, prayer is just a continual part of my life.

GG

[Fly Fisherman]

I think it's wonderful that you have allowed yourself to do this. I really think it has health benefits (just the relaxation technique alone), as well as being a wonderful way to commune with God.

Dr. Wayne Dyer has written a book called "Getting in the Gap". Have you read it? Not sure, but that may have been where the term orginated.

Dyer's books is where I initially learned about it, although I haven't read "Getting in the Gap" (I think I might soon!).