Sweet Hour of Prayer

I rewrote this William Walford hymn (1845) last month. I have been working on this hymn for a while and have a number of mediocre versions of it. Something keeps drawing me back to these lyrics. When I first turned my whole heart to Jesus in 1997, my relationship with God was defined by constant intimate prayer. Lying face down on my bed in prayer to talk to my Lord was like coming home to the only place I wanted to be in the whole world....at the feet of Jesus. This hymn reminds me of the sweetness that I have known and that I still taste each day as I walk in relationship with God. ........................................................................

Vocals: Nathan Partain, Rebekah Osborn Cello: Chad Davis Viola: Ashley Overley Violin: Laura Davis

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Sweet Hour of Prayer       (listen)     (chords)

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer! That calls me out from a world of care, And bids me at my Father’s throne, To make all of my wants and my 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! All the joys I feel, O the bliss I share, Those anxious hearts whose spirits burn, With the strongest desires for thy return! With such I would, run to the place, Where God my Savior shows His face, And gladly take my station there, and wait for thee Oh how I long to be with you where you are. Oh how I long to be with you...

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer! How thy wings shall all my petition bear Unto Him whose truth and whose faithfulness, Shall engage the waiting soul to bless. And since He has bid me seek His face, Believe His Word and to trust His grace, I’ll cast on Him my every care, And wait for thee Oh how I long to be with you where you are. Oh how I long to be with you where….

You are always listening so intently, You are always calling out, in deep of deep You are always whispering so gently, You are always tending to all I need. You are always offering your love for me, You are always intricately governing. You are always closer than I’d dare to dream, You are always there waiting.

 Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer! How I long to remain and be with you where you are.