IN THE HOUR OF PRAYER
“Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour” (Acts 3: 1).
Whatever you have read and learnt so far in this articles on prayer becomes useless and vain knowledge if not applied in the actual act of prayer. It is not only enough to read, talk, hear and preach about prayer, prayer must actually be prayed! Your life and circumstance will remain at the status quo if you are still reluctant to pray. If you must live to win, there is no alternative to prayer. The greatest and unique provision we have as children of God is this access to the throne of grace where we can obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Failure to explore this provision is to be denied of several good things in life.
Now when we come to this sacred and glorious hour of prayer, there are some truths we must bear in mind to aid our effectiveness in prayer. In the hour of prayer, posture is not a barrier. Whether you are standing, kneeling, sitting, bowing or lying down, God answers prayers no matter the posture you assume in praying. The most important thing is the condition of your heart. A broken and a contrite heart God will not despise, no matter the posture!
In the hour of prayer, every distraction and distracting objects must be put aside.Whereas it is advisable to close your physical eyes, more importantly is the eye of your mind. It is possible for you to close your eyes while the mind is busy wondering here and there. Prayer offered with such a mind cannot be effective. As you close your physical eyes, so also must you shut the eyes of your mind against every distraction and distracting objects.
In the hour of prayer, do not be vague and general. Know your request. Be specific and clearly define your desire in prayer. When God asked Solomon “Ask whatever you need”, Solomon did not provide a general answer response like “Lord, bless me”; he was specific, he asked for wisdom. And God granted unto him that which he asked in prayer!
In the hour of prayer, you must focus on God and not your own need. It is God who is ABLE to do far beyond what we ask of him that is waiting in the hour of prayer. He is higher and greater than the greatest of your need. Let not the size or dimension of your need limit the ability of God. Look not on the height, appearance and the intimidating voice of your ‘Goliath’. Do not let the doctor’s report or public views and opinions weaken your faith in the place of prayer. With God, not with men, all things are possible. In the hour of prayer only see the greatness of God.
In the hour of prayer, take away language barrier. Please, note that prayer is not an expression of impression on God. Don’t come to the place of prayer trying to impress God with one particular language. No one language in the world is superior or better than the other in the sight of God. No language is a special or reserved language of prayer. Pray in any language that allows you to express your heart-felt desires unto God. Don’t limit yourself with language barrier in the place of prayer. God hears and understands every language. Christians need to know that God does not check their worship for good grammar or eloquent speech. He desires their hearts and true faith in the hour of prayer.
In the hour of prayer, pray! Hour of prayer should not be time for idle discussion. Whenever we come to pray, we must actually pray. You must not turn the hour of prayer into a complaint, worry and anxiety. In the hour of prayer, you must pray. Hour of prayer is not also a time to sleep. They that sleep do so in the ‘night’, not in the time of prayer. There is a time to sleep and there is a time to pray. It is an insult on the Personality of God when we come to the place of prayer sleeping. If we can discipline ourselves enough not to sleep before the judges of this world, how much more should we when we appear before the God who owns the heaven and the earth!
Dearly beloved, God is eagerly waiting for us in the hour of prayer. Waiting to welcome every of our request made in accordance to His will. There are bountiful blessings locked up there in heaven only waiting to be unlocked in the hour of prayer. In the hour of prayer lies fullness of joy; peace like a flowing river; assurance in this unstable world; righteousness and transformation of life; divine guidance and instruction for life and ministry. There are deliverance, healing, promotion, breakthrough, wife, husband, children, fruitfulness and every good and perfect gift in the hour of prayer.
Nobody comes into the hour of prayer and goes out the same! Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour was also not left out in the glorious experience of the hour of prayer. Read His encounter: “And it came to pass about an eight days after these saying, he took Peter, James and John, and went up into a mountain to pray. And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.” This is quite impressive! The transfiguration of Christ did not occur during His preaching assignments but in the hour of prayer… note, “And as he prayed” then the change began to take place! This means there are transfiguration and rapturous experience in the hour of prayer. You also can experience spiritual transformation in the place of prayer. “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the spirit of the Lord” What a glorious hour that is!
Now is the time to arise out of complacency and laziness in order to lay hold on God in the hour of prayer. Now is the time to change our destiny by the privilege of prayer. Now is the time to secure the heaven over your own head opened for showers of blessing… You have been waiting too long, come on, is time to pray! Will you rise up now and make this very hour the hour of prayer? May the hour of prayer bear up your request on its wing and return on the same wing with the comforts and consolations of answered prayers. There is no hour sooooooo sweet!!!
SWEET HOUR OF PRAYER
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 season of distress and grief
My soul hath often found relief
And oft escape the temper’s snare
By thy return sweet hour of prayer
Sweet hour of prayer Sweet hour of prayer
Thy wings shall my petitions bear
To Him Whose truth and faithfulness
Engage the waiting souls 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’ll view my home and take my flight
This robe of flesh I’ll drop and rise
To seize the everlasting price
And shout while passing through the air
Farewell, farewell Sweet hour of prayer!
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