From: The Prayer Meeting Handbook, A manual and resource for leaders and those who desire to be leaders of a Prayer Meeting

Songs about prayer are especially helpful in a group prayer time.

“Let my prayer be as incense.” Psa 141:2; 5:3

A Godliness which feeds on form,
And lip devotion, barren cheer,
Will satisfy an earthly worm,
Who learns to think and call it prayer;
Contented with the husky part,
A moving lip and silent heart.

O Lord, thy Spirit’s aid impart,
And fill me with devotion’s fire;
Create anew my waiting heart,
And heavenly breathings there inspire;
Bid heart and flesh cry out for thee,
And thou my joyful portion be!

Let incense smoking from my breast,
In praise and prayer ascend thy hill;
And where I rove, or where I rest,
Do thou, O God, surround me still;
My heavenly intercourse increase,
Till as a river flows my peace.

A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship, William Gadsby, #901

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Ah dearest Lord! I cannot pray,
My fancy is not free;
Unmannerly distractions come,
And force my thoughts from Thee.

My very flesh has restless fits;
My changeful limbs conspire
With all these phantoms of the mind
My inner self to tire.

I cannot pray; yet, Lord! Thou knowst
The pain it is to me
To have my vainly struggling thoughts
Thus torn away from Thee.

Yet Thou art oft present, Lord!
In weak distracted prayer:
A sinner out of heart with self
Most often finds Thee there.
My Saviour! why should I complain
And why fear aught but sin?
Distractions are but outward things;
Thy peace dwells far within.

F. W. Faber

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“Watch and pray.” Matt. 26:41; Mark 13:33

Alas, what hourly dangers rise!
What snares best my way!
To heave O let me lift my eyes,
And hourly watch and pray.

How oft my mournful thoughts complain,
And melt in flowing tears!
My weak resistance, ah, how vain!
How strong my foes and fears!

O gracious God, in whom I live,
My feeble efforts aid;
Help me to watch, and pray, and strive,
Though trembling and afraid.

Increase my faith, increase my hope,
When foes and fears prevail!
And bear my fainting spirit up,
Or soon my strength will fail.

Whene’er temptations fright my heart,
Or lure my feet aside,
O God, thy powerful aid impart, -
My guardian and my guide.

O keep me in the heavenly way,
And bid the tempter flee;
And let me never, never stray,
From happiness and thee.

Steele A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship, William Gadsby, #1051

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A little while with Jesus—
Oh, how it soothes the soul,
And gathers all the threads of life
Into a perfect whole.
Prayer, O. Hallesby, p 145

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Approach, My Soul, the Mercy Seat

Approach, my soul, the mercy seat,
Where Jesus answers prayer;
There humbly fall before his feet,
For none can perish there.

Thy promise is my only plea;
With this I venture nigh;
Thou callest burdened souls to thee,
And such, O Lord am I.

Bowed down beneath a load of sin,
By Satan sorely pressed,
By war without and fears within,
I come to thee for rest.

Be thou my shield and hiding place,
That, sheltered near thy side,
I may my fierce accuser face,
And tell him thou hast died.

O wondrous love! To bleed and die,
To bear the cross and shame,
That guilty sinners, such as I,
Might plead thy gracious name.

Poor tempest-tossed soul, be still;
My promised grace receive;
I’ll work in thee both power and will;
Thou shalt in me believe.

John Newton 1779; DALEHURST C.M. Arthur Cottman, 1874
A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship, William Gadsby, #388

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Arise, my soul arise

Arise, my soul, arise;
Shake off thy guilty fears;
The bleeding sacrifice
In thy behalf appears:
Before the throne my surety stands;
My name is written on his hands.

He ever lives above,
For me to intercede;
His all-redeeming love,
His precious blood to plead;
His blood atoned for all our race,
And sprinkles now the throne of grace.
Five bleeding wounds he bears,
Received on Calvary;
They pour effectual prayers,
They strongly speak for me.
Forgive him, O forgive, they cry,
Nor let that ransomed sinner die.
The Father hears him pray—
His dear Anointed One:
He cannot turn away
The presence of his Son;
His Spirit answers to the blood,
And tells me I am born of God.

My God is reconciled,
His pardoning voice I hear;
He owns me for his child,
I can no longer fear:
With confidence I now draw nigh,
And Father, Abba Father, cry.

Charles Wesley
(Prayer and its Remarkable Answers, Patton, p 144)

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A saint there was in days of old
(Though we but little of him hear)
In honour high, of whom is told
A short, but an effectual prayer.
This prayer, my brethren, let us view,
And try if we can pray so too.

He called on Israel’s God, ’tis said;
Let us take notice first of that;
Had he to any other prayed,
To us it had not mattered what;
For all true Israelites adore
One God, Jehovah, and no more.

“O that thou wouldst me bless indeed,
And that thou wouldst enlarge my bound;
And let thy hand in every need
A guide and help be with me found;
That thou wouldst cause that evil be
No cause of pain and grief to me.”

What is it to be blest indeed,
But to have all our sins forgiven;
To be from guilt and terror freed,
Redeemed from hell, and sealed for heaven;
To worship an incarnate God,
And know he saved us by his blood?

And next, to have our cost enlarged
Is, that our hearts extend their plan;
From bondage and from fear discharged,
And filled with love to God and man;
To cast off every narrow thought,
And use the freedom Christ has bought.

To use this liberty aright,
And not the grace of God abuse,
We always need his hand, his might,
Lest what he gives us we should lose;
Spiritual pride would soon creep in,
And turn his very grace to sin.

This prayer, so long ago preferred,
Is left on sacred record thus;
And this good prayer by God was heard,
And kindly handed down to us.
Thus Jabez prayed, for that’s his name.
May all believers pray the same.

Jabez’s Prayer 1 Chr 4:9,10
A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship, William Gadsby, #790

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AWAKE

One man awake, awakens another.
The second awakens his next-door brother.
The three awake can rouse a town,
By turning the whole place upside down.

The many awake can make such a fuss,
It finally awakens the rest of us.
One man up with dawn in his eyes,
Surely then multiplies.

Lawrence Tribble, during the Great Awakening

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Prayer Meeting – Ps. 17:1; 32:5,6

Behold, dear Lord, we come again,
To supplicate thy grace;
We feel our leanness and our wants;
We want to see thy face.

Thou know’st, dear Lord, for what we’re come;
Each heart is known to thee.
Lord, give our burdened spirits rest,
And bid us all go free.

We’ve nothing of our own to plead,
We come just as we are;
And who can tell but God may bless,
And drive away our fear?

While one is pleading with our God,
May each one wrestle too;
And may we feel the blessing come,
And cheer us ere we go.

Then shall we sing of sovereign grace
And feel its power within;
And glory in our Surety, Christ,
Who bore our curse and sin.

For this we come, for this we plead,
In spite of every foe;
Unto thou give this blessing, Lord,
We would not let thee go.

D. Herbert A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship, William Gadsby, #677

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Behold the Throne of Grace!
The Throne of Grace –Heb. 4:16; John 14:13,14

Behold the Throne of Grace!
The promise calls me near;
There Jesus shows his smiling face;
And waits to answer prayer.

That rich atoning blood
Which, sprinkled round, I see,
Provides for those who come to God
An all-prevailing plea.

My soul, ask what thou wilt,
Thou canst not be too bold;
Since his own blood for thee he spilt,
What else can he withhold?

Beyond thy utmost wants
His love and power can bless.
To praying souls he always grants
More than they can express.

John Newton, 1779; STATE STREET S.M. Jonathan C. Woodman 1844
A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship, William Gadsby, #395

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Be not afraid to pray; to pray is right;
Pray if thou canst with hope, but ever pray,
Though hope be weak or sick with long delay;
Pray in the darkness if there be no light;
And if for any wish thou dare not pray
Then pray to God to cast that wish away.

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“Lord teach us to pray.” Luk 11:1

Blessed Jesus, Lord of all,
Teach us on thy name to call;
Help us to be much in prayer,
And upon thee cast our care.

Draw us, Lord, by thy sweet power,
In temptation’s darkest hour;
Make us cry to thee our Friend,
And upon thy grace depend.

At all times, in every case,
Lead us to thy Throne of Grace;
Let our needs be what they may,
Teach us how and what to pray.

Jesus, deign to bless us thus,
And to glory in thy cross;
Then, though men and devils roar,
We will ever thee adore.

A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship, William Gadsby, #640

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The spirit also helpeth our infirmities – Rom 8:26

Blessed Spirit from above,
Teach, O teach me how to pray;
Fill my soul with heavenly love;
Lead me the celestial way.

When temptations me surround
Help me, Lord, on thee to call;
When iniquities aboud,
Save, O save me, or I fall.

When thou hidest they lovely face,
Till the cloud is passed away,
And I feel the sweets of peace,
Never let me cease to pray.

When I feel my heart like stone,
When I have no heart to pray,
At thy feet, O God, I’d groan,
“Take this stony heart away.”

Holy Spirit, on me shine;
Make my evidences clear;
Then I’ll say that God is mine!
I shall with the Lord appear!

A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship, William Gadsby, #963 7s. Gospel Mag., 1781.

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Blest, when assaulted by the tempter’s power,
The Cross my armour, and the Lamb my Tower,
Kneeling I triumph--issuing from the fray
A bleeding conqueror--my life a prey.

Adolphe Monod

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Bow down Thine Ear, O Lord and Hear

Bow down thine ear, O Lord and hear,
for I am poor and great my need;
preserve my soul, for Thee I fear,
O god, thy trusting servant heed.

O Lord, be merciful to me,
for all the day to thee I cry;
rejoice thy servant, for to thee
I lift my soul, O Lord Most High.

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For thou, O Lord, art good and kind,
and ready to forgive thou art;
abundant mercy they shall find
who call on thee with all their heart.

O Lord, incline thine ear to me,
my voice of supplication heed;
in trouble I will cry to thee,
for thou wilt answer when I plead.

There is not God but thee alone,
nor works like thine, O Lord Most High;
all nations shall surround thy throne
and their Creator glorify.

In all thy deeds how great thou art!
Thou one true God, thy way make clear;
teach me with undivided heart
to trust thy truth, thy name to fear.

Psalm 86:11-11
The Psalter, 1912; Griffin Hugh Jones, 1849-1919

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Breath on Me

Breathe on me, breathe on me, Holy Spirit, breathe on me:
Take Thou my heart, cleanse every part, Holy Spirit, breathe on me.

Holy Spirit, breath on me, Until, my heart is clean;
Let Sunshine fill its in most part, With not a cloud between.

Holy Spirit, breath on me, My stubborn will subdue;
Teach me in words of living flame, What Christ would have me do.

Holy Spirit, breath on me, Fill me with power divine;
Kindle a flame of love and zeal, Within this heart of mine.

Holy Spirit breath on me, Till I am all Thine own,
Until my will is lost in Thine, To live for Thee alone.

Edwin Hatch 1835-1889

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Can I have the things I pray for?
God knows best;
He is wiser than His children.
I can rest.

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Freedom of Access to a Throne of Grace
Heb. 4:16

Come boldly to a throne of Grace,
Ye wretched sinners, come;
And lay your load at Jesus’ feet,
And plead what he has done.

“How can I come?” some soul may say,
“I’m lame, and cannot walk;
My guilt and sin have stopped my mouth;
I sign, but dare not talk.”

Come boldly to the throne of grace,
Though lost, and blind and lame;
Jehovah is the sinner’s Friend,
And ever was the same.

He makes the dead to hear his voice;
He makes the blind to see;
The sinner lost he came to save,
And set the prisoner free.

Come boldly to the throne of grace,
For Jesus fills the throne;
And those he kills he makes alive;
He hears the sigh or groan.

Poor bankrupt souls, who feel and know
The hell of sin within,
Come boldy to the throne of grace;
The Lord will take you in.

A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship, William Gadsby, #675
C.M. D. Herbert

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“He shall call upon me, I will answer”
Psa 91:15

Come, come, my soul, with boldness come,
Unto the throne of grace;
There Jesus sits to answer prayer,
And shows a smiling face.

Our Surety stands before the throne,
And personates our case;
And send the blessed Spirit down
With tokens of his grace.

There’s not a groan, nor wish, nor sigh,
But penetrates his ears;
He know our sins perplex and tease,
And cause our doubts and fears.

But he upholds us with his arm,
And will not let us fall;
When Satan roars, and sin prevails,
He hears our mournful call.

He knows we have no strength at all;
He knows our foes are strong;
But though ten thousand foes engage,
The weakest sha’n’t go wrong.

Then let us all unite and sing
The praises of free grace;
Those souls who long to see him now,
Shall surely see his face.

D. Herbert A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship, William Gadsby, #509

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Come, Holy Spirit, come;
Let Thy bright beams arise;
Dispel the darkness from our minds,
And open all our eyes.

Convince us of our sin;
Then lead to Jesus' blood,
And to our wondering view reveal
The secret love of God.

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“Ask what I shall give thee.” 1 Kings 3:5
Come, My Soul, Thy Suit Prepare.

Come, my soul, thy suit prepare:
Jesus loves to answer prayer;
He himself has bide thee pray,
Therefore will not say thee, Nay.

Thou art coming to a King,
Large petitions with thee bring;
For his grace and power are such,
None can ever ask too much.

With my burden I begin:
Lord, remove this load of sin;
Let thy blood, for sinners spilt,
Set my conscience free of guilt.

Lord, I come to thee for rest,
Take possession of my breast;
There thy blood-bought right maintain,
And without a rival reign.

As the image in the glass,
Answers the beholder’s face,
Thus unto my heart appear;
Print thy own resemblance there.

While I am a pilgrim here,
Let thy love my spirit cheer;
As my Guide, my Guard, my Friend,
Lead me to my journey’s end.

Show me what I have to do,
Every hour my strength renew:
Let me live a life of faith,
Let me die thy people’s death;

John Newton, 1779; HENDON 7.7.7.7.rep; Henri A Cesar Marlan, 1827
A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship, William Gadsby, #379

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Come, O Come, Thou Quickening Spirit

Come, O come, thou quick’ning Spirit,
God from all eternity!
May the power never fail us;
dwell within us constantly
Then shall truth and life and light
banish all the gloom of night.

Grant our hearts in fullest measure
wisdom, counsel, purity.
That we ever may be seeking
only that which pleaseth thee.
Let thy knowledge spread and grow,
working error’s overthrown.
Show us, Lord, the path of blessing:
when we trespass on our way,
cast, O Lord, our sins behind thee
and be with us day by day.
Should we stray, O Lord, recall;
work repentance when we fall.

Holy Spirit, strong and mighty,
thou who makest all things new,
make thy work within us perfect
and the evil foe subdue.
Grant us weapons for the strife
and with victory crown our life.

Heinrich Held, ca. 1664; Charles F. Gounod, 1872; Tr. by Charles W. Schaeffer, 1866; alt; alt. 1961

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Come, O thou traveler, unknown,
Whom still I hold, but cannot see;
My company before has gone,
And I am left alone with thee:
With thee all night I mean to say,
And wrestle till the break of day.

In vain thou strugglest to get free;
I never will unloose my hold:
Art thou the Man that died for me?
The secret of thy love unfold;
Wrestling, I will not let thee go,
‘Till I thy name, thy nature know.

(1 & 3 stanzas Peniel ? ) Charles Wesley

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Come to the morning-prayer;
Come, let us kneel and pray:
Prayer is the Christian pilgrim’s staff,
To walk with God all day.

At noon, beneath the Rock
Of Ages, rest and pray;
Sweet is that shelter from the heat,
When the sun smites by day.’

At evening, shut thy door;
Round the; home-altar pray;
And, finding there the house of God,
At Heaven’s gate close the day.

When midnight veils our eyes,
Oh, it is sweet to say,
I sleep, but my heart waketh, Lord,
With thee to watch and pray.

James Montgomery (Quoted in Prayer and its Remarkable Answers, William Patton p 32)

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“Watch and Pray.” Matt 36:41; Mark 14:38

Dangerous is the path we go,
In this wilderness below,
Savage beasts of every kind,
Aiming to distress the mind.

Scarce an hour but pilgrims see
They from danger are not free;
In some unexpected way,
Something fills them with dismay.

Thus beset, they daily feel
They have neither strength nor skill
Rightly to oppose the foe,
Or to guard against the woe.

How, then, can they persevere?
Must they of the prize despair?
No; ‘tis theirs to watch and pray,
For the Lord will guard the way.

Christ the Master, Lord of all,
Bids his children watch and call;
May it be our blessed case,
Both to watch and seek his face.

When we watch, then may we pray
And in prayer watch every day;
And with pleasure ever prove
All our strength is from above.

Thus supported, we shall be
More than conquerors, Lord through thee;
And when every danger’s past,
Live and reign with thee at last.

A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship, William Gadsby, #645

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Day by Day–a Prayer

Day by day, day by day, O dear Lord, three things I pray;
To see Thee more clearly, Love Thee more dearly
Follow Thee more nearly, Day by day.

TEXT: St. Richard of Chichester; MUSIC: Ken Barker
Music copyright 1986 WORD MUSIC (a div. Of WORD, INC.) All Rights Reserved.
International Copyright Secured (Used by Permission CCLI #3357343

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The Throne of Grace.
Heb 4:16, 10:19-22

Dear Lord! to us assembled here
Reveal thy smiling face,
While we, by faith, with love and fear,
Approach the throne of grace.

Thy house is called the house of prayer,
A solemn sacred place;
O let us now thy presence share,
While at the throne of grace.

With holy boldness may we come,
Though of sinful race,
Thankful to find there yet is room
Before the throne of grace.

Our earnest, fervent cry attend,
And all our faith increase,
While we address our heavenly Friend
Upon the throne of grace.

His tender pity and his love
Our every fear will chase;
And all our help, we then shall prove,
Comes from the throne of grace.

Dear Lord, our many wants supply;
Attend to every case;
While humbled in the dust we lie,
Low at the throne of grace.

We bless thee for thy word and laws;
We bless thee for thy peace;
And we do bless thee, Lord, because
There is a throne of grace.

A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship, William Gadsby, #382

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Dear Saviour Thou Art Mine
Dear Saviour, Thou art mine,
How sweet the thought to me,
Let me repeat thy name,
And lift my heart to thee.

Mine, mine, mine
I know thou art mine
Saviour, dear Saviour,
I know thou art mine.

Thou art the sinner’s friend,
So I thy friendship claim,
A sinner saved by grace,
When thy sweet message came

Mine, mine, mine
I know Thou art mine,
Saviour, dear Saviour,
I know thou art mine.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Let me sing thy praise,
And let me call thee mine,
I cannot help thy Word,
I know Thou art mine.

Mine, mine, mine
I know Thou art mine,
Saviour, dear Saviour,
I know thou art mine.

Recorded by George Beverly Shea

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Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never-failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs,
And works His sovereign will.

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Early in the Morning
Recorded by George Beverly Shea

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Faith asks no signal from the skies,
To show that prayers accepted rise,
Our Priest is in His holy place,
And answers from the throne of grace.

Faith, mighty faith the promise sees,
And Looks to God alone;
Laughs at impossibilities,
And cries, It shall be done!
C. Wesley

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Father, I stretch my hands to Thee,
No other help I know;
If Thou withdraw Thyself from me,
Ah! Whither shall I go?

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For what are men better than sheep or goats
That nourish a blind life within the brain,
If, knowing God, they lift not hands of prayer
Botb for themselves and those who call them friend?
For so the whole round world is every way
Bound by gold chains about the feet of God.

How Can God Answer Prayer?, William Edward Biederwolf, p 19

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From Every Stormy Wind That Blows

From every stormy wind that blows,
from every swelling tide of woes,
There is a calm, a sure retreat:
‘Tis found beneath the mercy seat.
There is a place where Jesus sheds
the oil of gladness on our heads,
A place than all besides more sweet;
it is the bloodstained mercy seat.

There is a spot where spirits blend,
where friend holds fellowship with friend.
Tho’ sundered far; by faith they meet
around the common mercy seat.

Ah, whither could we flee for aid,
when tempted, desolate, dismayed,
Or how the hosts of hell defeat,
had suffering saints no mercy seat.

There, there on eagle wings we soar
and time and sense seem all not more,
and heav’n comes down our souls to greet,
and glory crowns the mercy seat.

O may my hand forget her skill,
my tongue be silent, cold and still,
this bounding heart forget to beat,
if I forget the mercy seat.

Hugh Stowell, 1828, 1831; Thomas Hastings, 1842, arr. By Rhys Thomas, 1916

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Gird thy heavenly armour on,
Wear it ever night and day,
Ambushed lies the evil one,
Watch and pray.

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God dwells not only where, O’er saintly dust,
The Sweet bells greet the fairest morn of seven;
Wherever simple folk love, pray and trust,
Behold the House of God, the Gate of Heaven.

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God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are filled with mercies, and shall break
In blessings ’round thy head.

God nothing does nor suffers to be done
But thou would’st do thyself
Could’st thou but see
The end of all events as well as He.

Grace and glory flow from Thee;
Shower, O shower them, Lord, on me.

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Is any among you afflicted, let him pray-Jam 5:13

God of my life, to thee I call;
Afflicted at thy feet I fall;
When the great water-floods prevail,
Leave not my trembling heart to fail.

Friend of the friendless and the faint,
Where should I lodge my deep complaint?
Where but with thee, whose open door
Invites the helpless and the poor?

Did ever mourner plead with thee,
And thou refuse that mourner’s plea?
Does not the word still fixed remain,
That none shall seek thy face in vain?

That were a grief I count not bear,
Didst thou not hear and answer prayer;
But a prayer-hearing, answering God
Supports me under every load.

Poor though I am, despised, forgot,
Yet God, my God, forgets me not;
And he is safe, and must succeed,
For whom the Lord vouchsafes to plead.

Cowper A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship, William Gadsby, #967

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Great Advocate! Almighty Friend!
On Thee our humble hopes depend;
Our cause can never, never fail
For Thou dost plead and must prevail.

From All the Prayers of the Bible Herbert Lockyer p 174

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Have Thine Own Way
Recorded by George Beverly Shea

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He answered prayer–not in the way I sought
Nor in the way that I had thought He ought;
But in His own good way; and I could see
He answered in the fashion best for me.
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He asked for strength that he might achieve:
he was made weak that he might obey.
He asked for health that he might do greater things;
he was given infirmity that he might do better things.

He asked for riches that he might be happy;
he was given weakness that he might feel the need of God.
He asked for all things that he might enjoy life;
he was given life that he might enjoy all things.

He has received nothing that he asked for, all that he hoped for;
he prayer is answered.

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He prayed upon the mountain,
He prayed for you and me,
He prayed in humble dwellings,
He prayed beside the sea.

He prayed in early morning,
Prayed with all His might,
He prayed at noonday and at dusk,
He prayed all thro’ the night.

He prayed for those who scorned Him,
For those who killed Him, too,
He prayed, “Father forgive them:
They know not what they do.”

He prayed when He was lonely,
He prayed when He was sad,
He prayed when He was weary,
He prayed when He was glad.

He prayed for those in sorrow,
He prayed for those in sin,
He prayed for those in trouble
That they might come to Him

D.W.L.

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He prayeth best who loveth best
All things both great and small;
For the great God Who loveth us,
He made and loveth all.

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High Priest of the Church Dispensation,
Lift up, we pray, Thy pierced hand,
And bless Thy ransomed congregation
In every place, by sea and land.

Before Thy Father’s face remember
By name each individual member;
Thy face now on us shine,
Grant us Thy peace divine;
For we are thine.

(Moravian Hymn)

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His promise is our only plea,
With this we venture nigh.

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How oft He sought the mountain top, and knelt upon its crest,
To pray, and lay His weary Head upon His Father’s breast.
Before he called the Twelve to Him, He prayed all night alone,
And when the day began to dawn, He chose them for His own.
Great Commission Prayer League

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Sing this to the tune of "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas."

I'm dreaming of a re-vival,
Unlike any seen before
Where churches wake up,
And prayers they take up,
To see God come in His power.

I'm praying for a re-vival,
Where every neighborhood is touched.
May the Lord be gracious and hear,
And bring a revival this year.

For the tune go to: http://www.bethanyroberts.com/ImDreamingofaWhiteChristmas.htm
Or
http://www.heavenlywebs.net/midis/christmas/whitecmas.htm

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Prayer answered by crosses.
Psa 65:5, Act 14:22

I asked the Lord that I might grow
In faith, and love, and every grace;
Might more of his salvation know,
And seek more earnestly his face.

[’Twas he who taught me thus to pray,
And he, I trust, has answered prayer;
But it has been in such a way
As almost drove me to despair.]

I hoped that in some favoured hour,
At once he’d answer my request;
And, by his love’s constraining power,
Subdue my sins and give me rest.

Instead of this, he made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart,
And let the angry powers of hell
Assault my soul in every part.

Yea, more, his own hand he seemed
Intent to aggravate my woe;
Crossed all the fair design I schemed,
Blasted my gourds, and laid me low.

“Lord, why is this?” I trembling cried;
“Wilt thou pursue thy worm to death?”
“’Tis in this way,” the Lord replied,
“I answer prayer for grace and faith.”

“These inward trials I employ,
From self and pride to set thee free;
And break thy schemes of earthly joy,
That thou mayst seek thy all in me!”

Newton
A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship, William Gadsby, #295

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“I will not let thee go.”
Gen 32:26; Son 3:4

Shepherd divine, our wants relieve
In this our evil day;
To all thy tempted followers give
The power to trust and pray.

Long as our fiery trials last,
Long as the cross we bear;
O let our souls on thee be cast,
In never-ceasing prayer.

Til Thou the Father’s love impart,
Till thou thyself bestow,
Be this the cry of every heart,
“I will not let thee go.

“I will not let thee go, unless
Thou tell thy name to me;
With all they great salvation bless,
and say, ‘Christ died for thee.’ ”

A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship, William Gadsby, #1088 C.M. C.W

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I Cannot Pray

I cannot say OUR if my religion has no room for others and their needs.
I cannot say FATHER if I do not demonstrate this relationship in my daily living.
I cannot say WHO ART IN HEAVEN if all my interests and pursuits are in earthly things.
I cannot say HALLOWED BY MY NAME if I, who am called to bear His Name, am not holy.
I cannot say THY KINGDOM COME if I am unwilling to give up my own sovereignty and accept the righteous reign of God.
I cannot say ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN unless I am truly ready to give myself to His service here and now.
I cannot say GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD without expending honest effort for it, or by ignoring the genuine needs of others.
I cannot say FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US if I continue to harbor a grudge against anyone.
I cannot say LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION if I deliberately choose to remain in a situation where I am likely to be tempted.
I cannot say DELIVER US FROM EVIL if I am not prepared to fight in the spiritual realm with the weapon of prayer.
I cannot say THINE IS THE KINGDOM if I do not give the King the disciplined obedience of a loyal subject.
I cannot say THINE IS THE POWER if I fear what my neighbors and friends may say or do.
I cannot say THINE IS THE GLORY if I am seeking my own glory first.
I cannot say FOREVER if I am too anxious about each day’s events.
I cannot say AMEN unless I honestly say “Cost what it may, This is my prayer.”

Source unknown

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If our faith were but more simple
We should take Him at His word,
And our lives would be all sunshine
In the bounties of our Lord.

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If when I kneel to pray,
With eager lips I say;

‘Lord, give me all the things that I desire;
Health, wealth, fame, friends, brave hearts, religious fire,

The power to sway my fellow-men at will,
And strength for mighty works to banish ill;’

In such a prayer as this,
The blessing I must miss.
Or if I only dare
To raise this fainting prayer:

‘Thou seest, Lord, that I am poor and weak,
And cannot tell what things I ought to seek;
I therefore do not ask at all, but still
I trust Thy bounty all my wants to fill;’

My lips shall thus grow dumb,
The blessing will not come.
But if I lowly fall,
And thus in faith I call;

‘Through Christ, O Lord, I pray Thee give to me,
Not what I would, but what seems best Thee,
Of life, of health, of service, and of strength,
Until to Thy full joy I come at length;’

My prayer shall then avail,
The blessing will not fail.

Life Abiding and Abounding, W.H. Griffith Thomas, p 63

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The Power of Prayer.
Ps.1:15, Jas. 5:16-18

In themselves as weak as worms,
How can poor believers stand,
When temptations, foes, and storms,
Press them close on every hand?

Weak, indeed, they feel they are,
But they know the Throne of Grace;
And the God who answers prayer,
Helps them when they seek his face.

Though the Lord awhile delay,
Succour they at length obtain;
He who taught their hearts to pray,
Will not let them cry in vain.

Wrestling prayer can wonders do;
Bring relief in deepest straits!
Prayer can force a passage through
Iron bars and brazen gates.

For the wonders he has wrought,
Let us now our praises give;
And, but sweet experience taught,
Call upon him while we live.

Newton A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship, William Gadsby, #397

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I often say my prayers, but do I ever pray?
And do the wishes of my heart, go with the words I say?
I might as well kneel down, and worship gods of stone,
As offer to the living God, a prayer of words alone.

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I need not leave the jostling world,
Or wait till daily tasks are o’er,
To fold my palms in secret prayer
Within the close-shut closet door.

There is a viewless, cloistered room,
As high as heaven, as fair as day,
Where, though my feet may join the throng,
My soul can enter in and pray.

And never through those crystal walls
The clash of life can pierce its way,
Nor ever can a human ear
Drink in the spirit-words I say.

One hearkening, even, cannot know
When I have crossed the threshold o’er;
For He alone, Who hears my prayer,
Has heard the shutting of the door.

Life Abiding and Abounding, W.H. Griffith Thomas, p 59

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I pray for strength, O God!
Too bear all loads that on my shoulders press
Of thy directing or Thy chastening rod,
Lest from their growing stress
My spirit sink in utter helplessness.

I pray for strength to run
In duty’s narrowest paths, nor turn aside
In broader ways that glow in pleasure’s sun,
Lest I grow satisfied,
Where Thou from me Thy smiling face must hide.

I pray for strength to wait
Submissively when I can not see my way,
Or if my feet would haste, some close-barred gate
Bides my hof seal delay,
Or to some by-path turns their steps astray.
I pray for strength to live
To all life’s noble ends, prompt, just and true;
Myself, my service, unto all give,
And, giving, yet renew
My store for bounty of life’s Journey through.

I pray, O God, for strength,
When, as life’s love and labors find surcease,
Cares, crosses, burdens to lay down at length,
And so, wite joy’s increase,
To die, If not in triumph--in Thy peace.

How Can God Answer Prayer?, William Edward Biederwolf, p 33

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I Will Praise Him

I will praise Him in the morning,
When the day is new and bright,
I will praise Him in the noontime,
When the sun is at its bright,

I will praise Him in the evening,
When the sun is sinking low,
And His love will then enfold me,
As to Him in prayer I go.

I will praise Him for the sunshine,
And my blessings every day,
I will praise Him in the shadow
Of the trials He sends my way.

And when sorrows fill my mornings,
I will think of joys to come,
For I know He guides the future,
And I’ll praise His plan well done.

I will praise Him in the morning,
In the evening, all the time.
Recorded by George Beverly Shea

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In even savage bosoms
There are longings, servings, yearnings
For the good they comprehend not.
And their feeble hands and helpless.
Groping blindly in the darkness,
Touch God’s right hand in the darkness,
And are lifted up and strengthened.

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In Solitude with God
by
Anas tasia I. Burr

To the solitude of prayer
God invites His child alone;
He delights when you, with meekness
And by faith, approach His throne.

In the solitude of prayer,
That communion of love;
God reveals His glorious secrets
Planned for you in heaven above.

To the solitude of prayer
You must go yourself to hide;
Then in peace and joy and gladness
Will your heart for sure abide.

In the solitude of prayer
Pray the Scriputes to the Lord;
So you’ll always be victorious
Through His own two-edged sword.

Through the Scriputes in your praying
And His Spirit in your heart,
He will always show His pathways
And His mighty strength impart.

‘Tis in quietness and prayer
You will hear His gentle voice;
Thus when flesh and Satan whisper
You shall make the godly choice.

In the solitude of prayer
On your soul He sheds His light;
Then you walk with deep assurance
In the day and in the night.

Go in solitude for prayer,
Daily meet the Lord most high;
When you frequent this His dwelling
You shall know He’s always nigh.

Developing your Secret Closet of Prayer, Richard A. Burr, p viii

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Jesus, where’er thy people meet,
There they behold thy mercy-seat;
Wherer’er they seek thee thou art found,
And every place is hallowed ground.

For thou, within no walls confined,
Inhabitest the humble mind;
Such ever bring thee where they come,
And going, take thee to their home.

Dear Shepherd of thy chosen few,
Thy former mercies here renew;
Here to our waiting hearts proclaim
The sweetness of thy saving name.

Here may we prove the power of prayer
To strengthen faith, and sweeten care;
To teach our faint desires to rise,
And bring all heaven before our eyes.

A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship, William Gadsby, #1023

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In very love refuse
Whate’er Thou seest
Our weakness would abuse.

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Less than Thyself will not suffice
My comfort to restore.
A sense of Thine expiring love
Into my soul convey;
Thyself bestow; for Thee alone
I absolutely pray.

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Lips cry “God be merciful”
That ne’er cry “God be praised.”
O come let us adore Him!

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Lord, help me live from day to day
In such a self-forgetful way,
That even when I kneel to pray,
My prayer shall be for others.

–Charles Delucena Meigs

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Lord, I have Shut the Door

Lord, I have shut the door, Here do I bow;
Speak, for my soul attend Turns to Thee now.
Rebuke Thou what is vain, Counsel my Soul,
Thy holy will reveal, My will control.

In this blest quietness clamorings cease;
Here in Thy presence dwells Infinite peace;
Yonder, the strife and cry, Yonder the sin;
Lord, I have shut the door, Thou art within!

Lord, I have shut the door, Strengthen my heart;
Yonder awaits the task - I share a part.
Only through grace bestowed May I be true;
Here, while alone with Thee, My strength renew.

By William M. Runyan, Copyright 1923. Renewal 1951 extended.
Hope Publishing Co., owner. All rights reserved.

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Lord, I have wrestled through the livelong night
Do no depart,
Nor leave me thus in sad and weary plight,
Broken in heart;
Where shall I turn, if Thou shouldst go away,
And leave me here in this cold world to stay?

I have no other help, no food, no light
No hand to guide,
The night is dark, my home is not in sight,
The path untried;
I dare not venture in the dark alone–
I cannot find my way, if Thou be gone.
I cannot yet discern Thee, as thou art;
More let me see,
I cannot bear the thought that I must pass
Away from Thee:
I will not let The go, except Thou bless.
O, help me, Lord, in all my helplessness.
J. Sharp Gen 32

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“Heal my soul.” Ps 41:4, 6:2 Jer 17:14

Load, I approach thy throne of grace,
Where mercy does abound,
Desiring mercy for my sin,
To heal my soul’s deep wound.

O Lord, I need not to repeat
What I would humbly crave,
For thou dost know, before I ask,
The thing tilat I would have.

Mercy, good Lord, mercy I ask;
This is the total sum;
For mercy, Lord, is all my suit;
O let thy mercy come.

A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship, William Gadsby, #1009

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Lord, for the lonely heart
I pray apart.
Now, for this son of sorrow
Whom this to-morrow
Rejoiceth not, O Lord,
Hear my weak word.

For lives too bitter to be borne,
For the tempted and the torn,
For the prisoner in the cell,
For the shame lip doth not tell,
For the haggard suicide,
Peace, peace, this Christmastide.

In the desert, trod
By the long sick, O God;
Into the patient gloom
Of that small room
Where lies the child of pain
Of all neglected most—be fain
To enter, healing, and remain.

Now at the fall of day,
I bow and pray,
For those who cannot sleep
I watch I keep.

Oh, let the starving brain
Be fed and fed again;
At Thy behest
The tortured nerve find rest.

I see the vacant chair,
Father of souls, prepare
My poor thought’s feeble power
To plead this hour:

For the empty, aching home,
Where the silent footsteps come,
Where the unseen face looks on.
Where the hand-clasp is not felt,
Where the dearest eyes are gone,
Where the portrait on the wall
Stirs and struggles as to speak,
Where the light breath from the hall
Calls the colour to the check,
Where the voice breaks in the hymn
When the sunset burneth dim,
Where the late large tear will start,
Frozen by the broken heart,
Where the lesson is to learn
How to live, to grieve, to yearn,
How to bear and how to bow.
Oh, the Christmas that is fled!
Lord of living and of dead,
Comfort Thou!

Life Abiding and Abounding, W.H. Griffith Thomas, p 57

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Lord, I cannot let Thee go,
Till a blessing Thou bestow;
Do not turn away Thy face;
Mine’s an urgent, pressing case.

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Lord, I have shut my door!
Come Thou and visit me; I am alone!
Come, as when doors were shut, Thou cam’st of yore,
And visitedst Thine own.
My Lord, I kneel with reverent love and fear,
For Thou art here.

Life Abiding and Abounding, W.H. Griffith Thomas, p 67

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Lord, I have shut the door, speak now the word
Which in the din and throng could not be heard
Hushed now my inner heart, whisper thy will
While I have come apart, while all is still.

–William Runyan

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Lord, Listen to Your Children

Lord, listen to your children praying,
Lord, send your Spirit in this place;
Lord, listen to your children praying,
Send us love, send us pow’r, send us grace.

Some-thing’s gonna happen like the world has never known,
When the people of the Lord get down to pray;
A door's gon-na swing open, and the walls come a tumbling down,
When the people of the Lord get down to pray.

He’s gon-na take over, He’s gon-na take control,
When the people of the Lord get down to pray;
He’s gon-na move the mountain He’s gon-na make the waters roll,
When the people of the Lord get down to pray.

You’re gon-na know it when the Lord stretches out His hand,
When the people of the Lord get down to pray;
There’s gon’na be a brand new song of vic-try in this land,
When the people of the Lord get down to pray.

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Lord of the Sabbath, Hear Us Pray

Lord of the Sabbath, hear us pray,
in this your house, on this your day;
and own, as grateful sacrifice,
the songs which from your temple rise.

Now met to pray and bless your name,
whose mercies flow each day the same,
whose kind compassions never cease,
we seek instruction, pardon, peace.

Your earthly Sabbaths, Lord we love,
But there’s a nobler rest above;
To that our lab’ring souls aspire
with ardent hope and strong desire.

In your blest kingdom we shall be
from every mortal trouble free;
no sighs shall mingle with the songs
resounding from immortal tongues;

No rude alarms of raging foes;
no cares to break the long repose;
no midnight shade, no waning moon,
but sacred, high, eternal noon.

O long-expected day, begin
dawn on these realms of woe and sin!
Break, morn of God, upon our eyes;
and let the world’s true Sun arise.

Philip Doddridge, 1737
Alt. By Thomas Cotterill, 1819, and others; mod.
Germany L.M., William Gardiner’s Sacred Melodies, 1815

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Lord, what a change within us one short hour
Spent in Thy presence will prevail to make!
What heavy burdens from our bosoms take,
What parched grounds refresh, as with a shower!
We kneel, and all around us seems to lower;
We rise, and all the distant and the near
Stands forth in sunny outline, brave and clear.

We kneel, how weak! we rise, how full of power!
Why, therefore, should we do ourselves this wrong,
Or others, that we are not always strong,
That we are ever overborne with care,
That we should ever weak or heartless be,
Anxious or troubled, when with us is prayer,
And joy, and strength, and courage are with Thee?
R. C. Trench

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Love thy God, and love Him only,
And thy breast will ne’er be lonely.
In that one great Spirit meet
All things mighty, grave, and sweet.
Vainly strives the soul to mingle
With a being of our kind;
Vainly hearts with hearts are twined,
For the deepest still is single.
An inpalpable resistance
Holds like natures at a distance.
Mortal! love that Holy One,
Or dwell for aye alone.

Aubrey De Vere.

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More Love to Thee, O Christ

More love to thee, O Christ,
More love to thee!
Hear thou the prayer I make
On bended knee;
This is my earnest plea,
More love, O Christ, to thee,
More love to Thee
More love Thee

Once earthly joy I craved,
Sought peace and rest;
Now Thee alone I seek’
Give what is best;
This all my prayer shall be,
More love, O Christ to thee,
More love to Thee,
More love to Thee

Let sorrow do its work,
Send grief and pain;
Sweet are the messengers,
Sweet their refrain,
When they can sing with me,
More love, O Christ, to Thee,
More love to Thee,
More love to Thee

Then shall my latest breath
Whisper thy praise;
This be the parting cry,
My heart shall raise,
This still its prayer shall be,
More love, O Christ to Thee,
More love to Thee,
More love to Thee.

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“My house is the house of prayer,”
Luke 19:16

My bosom was designed to be
A house of prayer, O Lord, for thee.
A temple undefiled;
But vile outrageous thieves broke in,
And turned the house into a den,
And all its glory spoiled.

There anger lies, and lust, and pride,
And envy base its head will hide,
And malice brooding ill;
There unbelief the Lord denies,
And falsehood wispers out its lies,
And avarice gripeth still.

Thy help, Almighty Lord, impart,
And drag the tyrants from my heart,
And chase the thieves away;
Within my bosom fix thy throne,
And there be loved and served alone,
And teach me how to pray.

The work is thine to cleanse the place;
I can but look up for thy grace,
Nor this without thy aid;
Then let thy indignation burn,
And all thy foes o’erturn, o’erturn,
And rear again my head.

A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship, William Gadsby, #903

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My God. how wonderful Thou art!
Thy majesty how bright.
How beautiful Thy mercy-seat
In depths of burning light!
How wonderful, how beautiful
The sight of Thee must be;
Thine endless wisdom, boundless power
And awful purity.
This carries us into the very heavenlies, as also do the words:
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty,
All Thy works shall praise Thy name
In earth, and sky, and sea.

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My God! Is any hour so sweet,
From blush of morn to evening star,
As that which calls me to Thy feet--
The Hour of Prayer?

Lord, till I reach yon blissful shore,
No privilege so dear shall be
And thus my inmost soul to pour
In prayer to Thee!

How Can God Answer Prayer?, William Edward Biederwolf, p 15

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My heart now overflows
With prayers and praises.
My Heavenly Father knows
Each sigh that raises
My heart ever nearer His heart so tender;
For there’s my joy and peace;
In Thee I’ve found release,
My soul’s Defender.
Prayer, O. Hallesby, p 176

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My inmost soul, O Lord, to Thee
Leans like a growing flower
Unto the light; I do not know
The day nor blessed hour
When that deep-rooted, daring growth
We call the heart’s desire
Shalt burst and blossom to a prayer
Within the sacred fire
Of Thy great patience; grow so pure,
So still, so sweet a thing
As perfect prayer must surely be.
And yet my heart will sing
Because Thou seemst sometimes so near.
Close-present God! To me,
It seems I could not have a wish
That was not shared by Thee;
It seems I cannot be afraid
To speak my longings out,
So tenderly Thy gathering love
Enfolds me round about;
It seems as if my heart would break,
If, living on the light,
It should not lift to Thee at last
A bud of flawless white.
And yet, O helpless heart! How sweet
To grow, and bud, and say:
‘The flower, however marred or wan,
Shall not be cast away.’

Life Abiding and Abounding, W.H. Griffith Thomas, p 75

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Encouragement to pray
Isa 45:19-25; Psa 9:10

My soul, take courage from the Lord;
Believe and plead his holy word;
To him alone do thou complain,
Nor shalt thou seek his face in vain.

Upon him call in humble prayer,
Thou still art his peculiar care;
She’ll surely turn and smile again,
Nor shalt thou seek his face in vain.

However sinful, weak, and poor,
Still wait and pray at mercy’s door;
Faithful Jehovah must remain,
Nor shalt thou seek his face in vain..

Though the vile tempter’s hellish rage
WiII, with his darts, thy soul engage,
God through the fight shall thee sustain,
Nor shalt thou seek his face in vain .

Though the corruptions of thy heart
Daily new cause of grief impact,.
Pray that thy lust may all be slain,
Nor shalt thou seek his face in vain.

Though sharp afflictions still abound,
And clouds and darkness thee surround,
Still pray, for God will all explain,
Nor shalt thou seek his face in vain.

In him, and him alone, confide;
Still at the throne of grace abide;
Eternal victory thou shalt gain,
Nor shalt thou seek his face in vain.

A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship, William Gadsby, #377

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No time to pray!

No time to pray!
O, who so fraught with earthly care
As not to give a humble prayer
Some part of day!

No time to pray!
What heart so clean, so pure within,
That needeth not some check from sin.
Needs not to pray?

No time to pray?
‘Mid each day’s dangers, what retreat
More needful than the mercy seat?
Who need not pray?

No time to pray!
Must care or business’ urgent call
So press us as to take it all,
Each passing day?

What thought more drear
Than that our God His face should hide,
And say, through all life’s swelling tide,
No time to hear!

Anonymous

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Not only wait, but watch;
Pray at the door of hope, and sing,
Faith’s finger on the latch.

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Of what an easy, quick access
My blessed Lord, art thou! how suddenly
Mayour requests thine ears invade!
To show that state dislikes not easiness,
If I but lift mine eyes, my suit is make;
Thou canst no more not hear than thou canst die.

Of what supreme, almighty power
Is thy great arem, which spans the east and west,
And tracks the centre to the sphere!
By it do all things live their measured hour:
We cannot ask the thing which is not there,
Blaming the shallowness of our request.

Of what unmeasurable love
Art thou possest, who, when thou couldst not die,
Wert fain to take our flesh and cruse,
And for our sakes, in person sin reprove;
That by destroying that which tied thy purse,
Thou mightest make way for liberlaity.

Since then these three wait on thy throne,
Ease, Power and Love; I value prayer so,
That were I to leave all but one,
Wealth, fame, endownments virtues, all should go,
I and dear prayer could together dwell,
And quickly gain, for each inch lost, and ell.

George Herbert
(Quoted in Prayer and its Remarkable Answers, Patton, p 166)

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O God of Bethel! By whose hand
Thy people still are fed;
Who, through this weary pilgrimage
Hast all our fathers led—
Our vows, our prayers we now present
Before thy throne of grace:
God of our fathers! bed the God
Of their succeeding race.

Through each perplexing path of life,
Our wandering footsteps guide;
Give us each day our daily bread,
And raiment fit provide.
Oh spread thy covering wings around,
Till all our wand’rings cease,
And at our Father’s loved abode,
Our souls arrive in peace.

Such blessings from thy gracious hand,
Our humble prayers implore;
And thou shalt be our chosen God
And portion evermore.

John Logan
(Quoted in Prayer and its Remarkable Answers, Patton, p 189)

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O Lord, by Whom ye come to God,
The Life, the Truth, the Way,
The path of prayer Thyself hast trod;
Lord, teach us now to pray.

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Oh, this is blessing, this is rest!
Into thine arms, O Lord, I flee;
I hide me in thy faithful breast,
And pour out all my soul to thee.
There is a host dissuading me;
But all their voices far above,
I hear thy words: ‘Oh, taste and see
The Comfort of a Saviour’s love.’
And, hushing every adverse sound,
Asif all saints encamped about
One trusting heart pursued by doubt.

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O, tenderness! O, truth divine!
Lord, I am altogether thine,
I have bowed down; I need not flee;
Peace,peace is mine in trusting thee.

A. L. Waring
(Prayer and its Remarkable Answers, William Patton p 136)

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O Thou who camest from above

O Thou who camest from above
The pure, celestial fire to impart:
Kindlea flame of sacred love
On the mean altar of my heart.

There let it for Thy glory burn
With inextinguishable blaze,
And trembling to its source return,
In humble prayer and fervent praise.

Charles Wesley

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Oh, closer every day;
Let me lean harder on Thee, Jesus,
Yes, harder all the way.

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Oh, what peace we often forfeit!
Oh, what needless pain we bear!
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer;

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Oh, ye who sigh and languish
And mourn your lack of power,
Hear ye this gentle whisper:
“Could ye not watch one hour?”
For fruitfulness and blessing
There is no royal road;
The power for holy service
Is intercourse with God.

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On Opening a Place for Social Prayer

Jesus, where'er thy people meet,
There they behold thy mercy-seat;
Where'er they seek thee thou art found,
And ev'ry place is hallow'd ground.

For thou, within no walls confin'd,
Inhabitest the humble mind;
Such ever bring thee, where they come,
And going, take thee to their home.

Dear Shepherd of thy chosen few!
Thy former mercies here renew;
Here, to our waiting hearts, proclaim
The sweetness of thy saving name.

Here may we prove the pow'r of pray'r,
To strengthen faith, and sweeten care;
To teach our faint desires to rise,
And bring all heav'n before our eyes.

Behold! At thy commanding word,
We stretch the curtain and the cord;
Come thou, and fill this wider space,
And help us with a large increase.

Lord, we are few, but thou art near;
Nor short thine arm, nor deaf thine ear;
Oh rend the heav'ns, come quickly down,
And make a thousand hearts thine own!

William Cowper

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O watch and fight, and pray.
The battle ne’er give o’er.
Renew it boldly every day,
And help divine implore.
Ne’er think the victory won,
Nor lay thine armor down;
The work of faith will not be done,
Till thou obtain thy crown.
Fight on, my soul.....

George Heath

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Praise Him

In the happy moments, praise Him,
In the difficult moments, seek Him,
In the busy moments, bless Him,
In the quiet moments, worship Him.

In the waiting moments, trust Him,
In the painful moments, touch Him,
In the lovely moments, thank Him,
In the quiet moments, worship Him.

For the glory in all our moments,
He is there,
In goodness, in kindness, in love.

Amen.
Recorded by George Beverly Shea

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Pray, though the gifts you ask for
May never comfort your fears,
May never repay your pleading::
Yet pray, and with hopeful tears,
An answer --not that you sought for,
But diviner--will come one day:
Yet strive and wait and pray.
Adelaide A. Procter

(Prayer and its Remarkable Answers, William Patton p 72)

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Prayer Answered by Crosses

I asked the Lord, that I might grow
In faith, and love, and every grace,
Might more of His salvation know,
And seek more earnestly His face.

It was He who taught me thus to pray,
And He, I trust has answered prayer;
But it has been in such a way,
As almost drove me to despair.

I hoped that in some favored hour,
At once He'd answer my request:
And by His love's constraining power,
Subdue my sins, and give me rest.

Instead of this, He made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart;
And let the angry powers of hell
Assault my soul in every part.

Yes more, with His own hand He seemed
Intent to aggravate my woe;
Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,
Blasted my gourds, and laid me low.

Lord, why is this, I trembling cried,
Will You pursue Your worm to death?
"This in this way," the Lord replied,
"I answer prayer for grace and faith."

"These inward trials I employ,
From self and pride to set you free;
And break your schemes of earthly joy,
That you may seek your all in Me."

by John Newton

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Prayer changes things -- and yet how blind
And slow we are to taste and see
The blessedness that comes to those
Who trust in Thee.
But henceforth we will just believe God.

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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 neat.

Prayer is the simplest form of speech
That infant lips can try;
Prayer is the sublimest strains that reach
The Majesty on high.

Written by James Montgomery, the son of a Moravian missionary, who, despite his religious teaching, did not learn of the joys of salvation until he had bitterly experienced the disappointments of the pleasures of this world.

Fifty-two Prayer Meetings, J. E. Shultz, 1936

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Prayer is the Christian’s vital breath,
The Christian’s native air,
His watchword at the gates of death,
He enters heaven with prayer.

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Prayer
Phil 4:6; Acts 6:4; Dan 9:3

Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire
Uttered or unexpressed;
The motion of a hidden fire,
That trembles in the breast.

Prayer is the burden of a sigh,
The falling of a tear;
The unward glancing of an eye
When none but God is near.

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, and deed, and mind;
While with the Father and the Son,
Sweet felloship they find.

Nor prayer is made on earth alone;
The Holy Spirit pleads;
And Jesus, on the 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.

A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship, William Gadsby, #1002

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Prayer makes darkened clouds withdraw,
Prayer climbs the ladder Jacob saw;
Gives exercise to faith and love,
Brings every blessing from above.

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Prayers and praises go in pairs,
They hath praises who hath prayers.

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Pray, though the gifts you ask for
May never comfort your fears,
May never repay your pleading::
Yet pray, and with hopeful tears,
An answer --not that you sought for,
But diviner--will come one day:
Your eyes are too dim tosee it,
Yet strive and wait and pray.
Adelaide A. Procter

(Prayer and its Remarkable Answers, William Patton p 72)

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“Pray without ceasing.”
1 Thess 5:17 Eph 6:18

Prayer was appointed to convey
The blessings God designs to give.
Long as they live should Christians pray;
For only while they pray they.

The Christian’s heart his prayer indites;
He speaks as prompted from within;
The Spirit his petition writes,
And Christ receives and gives it in.

’Tis prayer supports the soul that’s weak,
Though thought be broken, language lame,
Pray, if thou canst or canst not speak’
But pray with faith in Jesus’ name.

Depend on him, thou canst not fail;
Make all thy wants and wishes known;
Fear not, his merits must prevail;
Ask what thou wilt, it shall be done.

A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship, William Gadsby, #882

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Shepherd Divine, our wants relieve
In this and every day;
To all Thy tempted followers give
The power, to watch and pray.
The spirit of interceding grace
Give us the faith to claim;
To wrestle till we see Thy face
And know Thy hidden Name.

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Spirit of the living God,
Fall fresh on me.
Spirit of the living god,
Fall fresh on me.
Break me! Melt me! Mold me! Fill me!
Spirit of the living God, fall on me.

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Springtime
recorded by George Beverly Shea

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Steal Away

Steal away, steal away, steal away home,
I ain’t got long to stay here.

My Lord calls me, He calls me by thunder,
The trumpet sounds within my soul.
I ain’t got long to stay here.

Green trees are bending, O sinner
Sound the trumpet, the trumpet sounds within in soul,
I ain’t got long to stay here.

Steal away, steal away, steal away to Jesus.
Steal away, steal away home,
I ain’t got long to stay here.

Recorded by George Bev Shea

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Still to the lowly soul,
He doth Himself impart
And for His dwelling and His throne
Chooseth the poor in heart.

All the Prayers of the Bible, Herbert Lockyer p 176

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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 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, sweet hour of prayer,
The joys I feel, the bliss I share
of those whose anxious spirits burn
with strong desires for thy return!
With such I hasten to the place
Where God, my Saviour, shows his face,
and gladly take my station there,
and wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer.

Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer,
thy wings shall my petition bear
To Him, whose truth and faithfulness
Engage the waiting soul 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.

By William W. Walford 1842

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Take Time to be Holy

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Teach Me to Pray, Lord

Teach me to pray Lord, teach me to pray,
This is my heart cry day unto day;
I long to know Thy will and Thy way;
Teach me to pray Lord, teach me to pray.

Power in prayer, Lord, power in prayer,
Here ‘mid earth’s sin and sorrow and care;
Men lost and dying, souls in despair;
O give me power, power in prayer.

My weakened will, Lord, teach me to pray;
My sinful nature Thou canst subdue;
Fill me just now with power anew,
Power to pray and power to do!

Teach me to pray Lord, teach me to pray;
Thou art my Pattern, day unto day;
Thou art my surety, now and for aye;
Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray.

REFRAIN
Living in Thee, Lord and Thou in me;
Constant abiding, this is my plea;
Grant me Thy power, boundless and free:
Power with men and with power with Thee.

Words and music by Albert S. Reitzd; copyright 1925, renewal Broadman Press. All rights reserved. Used by permission

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The Beautiful Garden of Prayer

There’s a garden where Jesus is waiting,
There’s a place that is wondrously fair;
For it glows with the light of His presence,
‘Tis the beautiful garden of prayer.

There’s a garden where Jesus is waiting,
And I go with my burden and care,
Just to learn form His lips words of comfort
In the beautiful garden or prayer.

There’s a garden where Jesus is waiting,
And He bids you to come meet Him there;
Just to bow, and receive a new blessing,
In the beautiful garden of prayer.

CHORUS
O the beautiful garden, the garden of prayer,
O the beautiful garden of prayer;
There my Savior awaits, and He opens the gates
To the beautiful garden of prayer.

Words by Eleanor Allen Schroll and music by James H. Fillmore
copyright1920. Renewed by Nazarene Publishing House. Used by permission

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The Difference

I got up early one morning
and rushed right into the day;
I had so much to accomplish
that I didn’t have time to pray.

Problems just tumbled about me,
and heavier came each task.
“Why doesn’t God help me?” I wondered.
He answered,”You didn’t ask.”

I wanted to see joy and beauty,
but the day toiled on, gray and bleak;
I wondered why God didn’t show me.
He said, “But you didn’t seek.”

I tried to come into God’s presence;
I used all my keys at the lock.
God gently and lovingly chided,
“My child, you didn’t knock.”

I woke up early this morning,
and paused before entering the day;
I had so much to accomplish
that I had to take time to pray.

–Author unknown

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The light of love is round His feet,
His paths are never dim;
And He comes nigh to us, when we
Dare not come nigh to Him.

Let us be simple with Him, then,
Not backward, stiff, or cold,
As though our Bethlehem could be
What Sinai was of old.

(Prayer and its Remarkable Answers, William Patton p 75)

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The Lord Has Heard and Answered Prayer

The Lord has heard and answered prayer
and saved his people in distress;
this to the coming age declare,
that they his holy name may bless.

The Lord, exalted on his throne,
looked down from heav’n with pitying eye
to still the lowly captive’s moan
and save his people doomed to die.

All men in Zion shall declare
his gracious name with one accord,
when kings and nations gather there
to serve and worship God the Lord

The earth and heav’ns shall pass away,
like vesture worn and laid aside,
but changeless you shall live alway,
your years forever shall abide.

You, O Jehovah, shall endure,
your throne forever is the same;
and to all generations sure
shall be your great memorial name.

Psalm 102:17-27 The Psalter, 1912; alt. 1990 mod.
Tune 1973 from the Oxford Books of Carols by permission of Oxford University Press

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The House of Prayer
Mar 11:17, 1 Cor 3:16.17

Thy mansion is the Christian’s heart,
O Lord, thy dwelling-place secure!
Bid the unruly throng depart,
And leave the consecrated door.

Devoted as it is to thee,
A thievish swarm frequents the place;
They steal away my joys from me,
And rob my Saviour of his praise.

There, to a sharp designing trade,’
Sin, Satan, and the world maintain;
Nor cease to press me, and persuade
To part with ease and purchase pain.

I know them, and I hate their din;
Am weary of the bustling crowd;
But while their voice is heard within,
I cannot serve thee as I would.

O for the joy thy presence gives;
What peace shall reign when thou art here;
Thy presence makes this den of thieves
A calm, delightful house of prayer.

And if thou make thy temple shine,
Yet, self-abased, will I adore;
The gold and silver are not mine;
I give thee what was thine before.

A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship, William Gadsby, #381

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The Ministry of Intercession

There is no holy service But hath its secret bliss:
Yet, of all blessed ministries, Is one so dear as this?
The ministry that cannot be A wondering seraph’s dower,
Enduing mortal weakness With more than angel-power;
The ministry of purest love Uncrossed by any fear,
That bids us meet at the Master’s feet And keeps us very near.

God’s ministers are many, For this His gracions will,
Remembrancers that day and night This holy office fill.
While some are hushed in slumber, Some to fresh service wake,
And thus the saintly number No change or chance can break.
And thus the sacred courses Are evermore fulfilled,
The tide of grace By time or place Is never stayed or stilled.

Oh, If our ears were opened To hear as angels do
The Intercession-chorus Arising full and true,
We should hear it soft up-welling In Morning’s pearly light ;
Through evening’s shadows swelling In grandly gathering might;
The sultry silence filling Of noontide’s thunderous glow,
And the solemn starlight thrilling With ever-deepening flow.

We should hear it through the rushing Of the city’s restless roar,
And trace its gentle gushing O’er ocean’s crystal floor:
We should hear it far up-floating Beneath the Orient moon,
And catch the golden noting From the busy Western noon;
And pine-robed heights would echo As the mystic chant up-floats,
And the sunny plain Resound again With the myriad-mingling notes.

Who are the blessed ministers Of this world-gathering band?
All who have learnt one language, Through each far-parted land ;
All who have learnt the story Of Jesu’s love and grace,
And are longing for His glory To shine in every face.
All who have known the Father In Jesus Christ our Lord,
And know the might And love the light Of the Spirit in the Word.

Yet there are some who see not Their calling high and grand,
Who seldom pass the portals, And never boldly stand
Before the golden altar On the crimson-stained floor,
Who wait afar and falter, And dare not hope for more.
Will ye not join the blessed ranks In their beautiful array?
Let intercession blend with thanks As ye minister to-day!
There are little ones among them Child-ministers of prayer,
White robes of intercession Those tiny servants wear.
First for the near and dear ones Is that fair ministry,
Then for the poor black children, So far beyond the sea.
The busy hands are folded, As the little heart uplifts
In simple love, To God above, Its prayer for all good gifts.

There are hands too often weary With the business of the day,
With God-entrusted duties, Who are toiling while they pray.
They bear the golden vials, And the golden harps of praise
Through all the daily trials, Through all the dusty ways,
These hands, so tired, so faithful, With odours sweet are filled,
And in the ministry of prayer And wonderfully skilled.

There are ministers unlettered, Not of Earth’s great and wise,
Yet mighty and unfettered Their eagle-prayers arise.
Free of the heavenly storehouse! For they ho1d the master-key
That opens all the fulness Of God’s great treasury.
They bring the needs of others, And all things are their own,
For their one grand claim Is Jesus’ name Before their Father’s throne.

There are noble Christian workers, The men of faith and power,
The overcoming wrestlers Of many a midnight hour;
Prevailing princes with their God, Who will not be denied,
Who bring down showers of blessing To swell the rising tide.
The Prince of Darkness quaileth At their triumphant way,
Their fervent prayer availeth To sap his subtle sway.

But in this temple service Are sealed and set apart
Arch-priests of intercession, Of undivided heart.
The fulness of anointing On these is doubly shed,
The consecration of their God Is on each low-bowed head.
They bear the golden vials With white and trembling hand;
In quiet room Or wakeful gloom These ministers must stand,-

To the Intercession-Priesthood Mysteriously ordained,
When the strange dark gift of suffering This added gift hath gained.
For the holy hands uplifted In suffering’s longest hour
Are truly Spirit-gifted With intercession-power.
The Lord of Blessing fills them With His uncounted gold,
An unseen store, Still more and more, Those trembling hands shall hold.

Not always with rejoicing This ministry is wrought,
For many a sigh is mingled With the sweet odours brought.
Yet every tear bedewing The faith-fed altar fire
May be its bright renewing To purer flame, and higher.
But when the oil of gladness God graciously outpoars,
The heavenward blaze, With blended praise,More mightily uproars.

So the incense-cloud ascendeth As through calm, crystal air,
A pillar reaching unto heaven Of wreathed faith and prayer.
For evermore the Angel Of Intercession stands
In His Divine High Priesthood With fragrance-filled hands,
To wave the golden censer Before His Father’s throne,
With Spirit-fire intenser, And incense all His own.

And evermore the Father Sends radiantly down
All-marvellous responses, His ministers to crown;
The incense-clond returning As golden blessing-showers,
We in each drop discerning Some feeble prayer of ours,
Transmuted into wealth unpriced, By Him who giveth thus
The gloria all to Jesus Christ, The gladness all to us!

September 1877 The Ministry of Intercession, Andrew Murray, p ix-xiv.

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The prayers I make will then be sweet indeed
If Thou the Spirit give by which I pray:
My unassisted heart is barren clay,
That of its nature self can nothing feed;

Of good and pious works Thou art the seed,
That quickens only when Thou say’st it may;
Unless Thou show to us Thine own true way
No man can find it: Father! Thou must lead.

-Michelangelo

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The praying Spirit breathe,
The watching power impart,
From all entanglements beneath,
Call off my anxious heart.

My feeble mind sustain,
By worldly thoughts oppressed,
Appears and bid me turn again
To my eternal rest.

The Path of Prayer, Samuel Chadwick, page 24

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For prayer that humbles sets the soul
From all delusions free,
And teachers it how utterly
Dear Lord, it hangs on Thee.
The Path of Prayer, Samuel Chadwick

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Then earnest let us cry,
And never faint in prayer:
God loves our importunity,
And makes our cause His care.

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The Prayer Life of Jesus

Since Christ was God, why must He pray?
By Him all things were known and made.
Omniscient and omnipotent.
Why need He ever ask for aid?
Ah! But He put His glory by,
Forgot a while His power great,
Humbled Himself, took human form
And stripped Himself of royal state.

For Christ was also Man; to feel
Man ‘s strongest tempting, and to know
His utmost weakness, He became
Like other men and suffered so.
And touched with our infirmities,
For those few years like us to be,
He still remembers we are dust,
Since He was tempted like as we.

But well He knew the source of help,
Whence comes all power, strength and peace,
In blest communion with His God,
Care and perplexity would cease.
When all earth’s sorrow and its sin
Too heavy on His spirit weighed,
Quiet and solitude He sought
And to His Father prayed.

Annie Johnson Flint

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The Proper Way to Pray

The proper way for a man to pray,
Said Deacon Lemuel Keyes,
And the only proper attitude
Is down upon his knees.

No, I should say the way to pray,
Said Reverend Doctor Wise,
“Is standing straight with outstretched arms
And rapt and upturned eyes.

Oh, no, no, no, said Elder Slow,
Such posture is too proud.
A man should pray with eyes fast-closed
And head contritely bowed.

It seems to me his hands should be
austerely clasped in front
With both thumbs pointing toward the ground,
Said Reverend Doctor Blunt.

Last year I fell in Hidgekin’s well
Headfirst, said Cyrus Brown,
With both my heels a-stickin’ up
And my head a-pointin’ down.

And I made a prayer right then and there,
The best prayer I ever said,
The prayingest prayer I ever prayed,
A standin’ on my head.

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The silent pleading
Of thy spirit raised above
Will reach His Throne of Glory,
Who is mercy, truth and love

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The victories won by prayer,
By prayer must still be held;
The foe retreats, but only when
By prayer he is compelled.

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There are heights of sweet communion that are awaiting me,
There are ocean depths of mercy that are flowing full and free;
There are precious pearls of promise that can ne’er be priced in gold,
There’s fulness in my Saviour that has never yet been told.

J. Stuart Holden

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They tell me, Lord, that when I seem
To be in speech with you,
Since but one voice is heard, it’s all a dream
One talker aping two.
Sometimes it is, yet not as they
Conceive, Rather I
Seek in my self the things I hoped to say,
But lo! My wells are dry.
Then, seeing me empty, you forsake

The listener’s role and through
My dumb lips breathe and into utterance wake
The thoughts I never knew.
And thus you neither need reply
Nor can; thus, while we seem
Two talkers, thou art One forever, and I
No dreamer, but thy dream.

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The weary ones had rest, the sad had joy
That day, and wondered ‘how.’
A ploughman singing at his work had prayed,
‘Lord, help them now.”

Away in foreign lands they wondered how
Their simple word had power.
At home, the Christians two or three had met
To pray an hour.

Yes, we are always wond’ring, wond’ring ‘how’:
Because we do not see
Someone, unknown perhaps, and far away,
On bended knee!

F.. Nesbit
Life Abiding and Abounding, W.H. Griffith Thomas, p 49

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Thou art coming to a King,
Large petitions with thee bring;
For his grace and power are such
None can ever ask too much.

–John Newton

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Though I’m but dust, I pray,
Before God standing,
Not asking pleasure’s way,
Nor gold demanding;
But greater things I ask,
From God requesting
No less than that He give
To me that I may live
Life everlasting.

Prayer, O. Hallesby, p 176

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Thy name, O Jesus, beckons me,
That trusting I shall come to Thee,
In faith and love on Thee lay hold
And deep within my heart enfold.

I call upon Thy name each day,
Where’er on earth I wander may,
It is for me a house of peace,
Where from all grief I find release.

Prayer, O. Hallesby, p 58

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Tis not to those who stand erect,
Or those who bend the knee,
It is to those who bow the heart
The Lord will gracious be;
It is the posture of the soul
That pleases or offends;
If it be not in God’s sight right
Naught else can make amends.

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This prayer is not his own: God Himself is speaking.
See, God prays in him, and he stands in deep contemplation.
God has given him both the contemplation and the answer?

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Thou knowest the way to bring me back,
My fallen spirit to restore;
Oh, for Thy truth and mercy’s sake,
Forgive, and bid me sin no more!
The ruins of my soul repair,
And make my heart a house of prayer.

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Thy promise is my only plea,
With this I venture nigh;
Thou callest the burdened soul to Thee,
And such, O Lord, am I.

Thy promise, Lord, is ever sure,
And they that in Thy house would dwell
That happy station to secure,
Must still in holiness excel.

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Thy thoughts are good, and thou are kind,
E’en when we think it not;
How many an anxious, faithless mind
Sits grieving o’er its lot,
And frets and pines by day and night,
As God had lost it out of sight,
And all its wants forgot.

Ah, no! God ne’er forgets his own,
His heart is far too true;
He ever seeks their good alone,
His love is dailyh new,
And though thou deem that things fo ill,
Yet he is just and holy still,
In all things he can do.

The Lord is eveer close and near
To those who keep his word;
Whene’er they cry to him in fear,
Their prayer is surely heard;
He knoweth well, who love him well;
His love shall yet their clouds dispel,
And grant the hope deferred.

Paul Gerjardt
(Prayer and its Remarkable Answers, Patton, p 211)

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Tis a Point I Long to Know

Tis a point I long to know;
Oft it causes anxious thought;
Do I love the Lord, or no?
Am I His, or am I not?

If I love, why am I thus;
Why this dull, this lifeless frame?
Hardly, sure, can they be worse,
Who have never heard His name.

Could my heart so hard remain,
Prayer a task and burden prove;
Every trifle give me pain,
If I knew a Savior's love?

When I turn my eyes within,
All is dark and vain and wild;
Filled with unbelief and sin,
Can I deem myself a child?

If I pray, or hear, or read,
Sin is mixed with all I do;
You that love the Lord indeed,
Tell me, is it thus with you?

Yet I mourn my stubborn will,
Find my sin a grief and thrall!
Should I grieve for what I feel,
If I did not love at all?

Could I joy His saints to meet
Choose the ways I once abhor'd;
Find at times the promise sweet,
If I did not love the Lord?

Lord, decide the doubtful case,
Thou who art Thy people's sun:
Shine upon Thy work of grace,
If it be indeed begun.

Let me love Thee more and more,
If I love at all, I pray;
If I have not loved before,
Help me to begin today.

John Newton

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‘Tis the Blessed Hour of Prayer

‘Tis the blessed hour of prayer, when our hearts are lowly bend,
And we gather to Jesus, our Saviour and Friend;
If we come to Him in Faith, His protection to share,
What a balm for the weary! O how sweet to be there!

‘Tis the blessed hour of prayers, when the Savior draws near,
With a tender compassion His children to hear;
When He tells us we may cast at His feet every care,
What a balm for the weary! O how sweet to be there!

‘Tis the blessed hour of prayer, when the tempted and tried
To the Saviour who loves them their sorrow confide;
With a sympathizing heart He removes every care,
What a balm for the weary! O how sweet to be there!

At the blessed hour of prayer, trusting Him we believe
That the blessings we’re needing we’ll surely receive;
In the fullness of this trust we shall lose every care;
What a balm for the weary! O how sweet to be there!

Words By Fanny J. Crosby and music by William H. Doane

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To God your every want
In instant prayer display.
Pray always; pray and never faint:
Pray! Without ceasing, pray.

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To Pray

To pray is as it were to bathe one's-self in a cool bubbling
stream, and so to escape from the heat of earth's summer sun.

To pray is to mount on eagle's wings above the clouds
and get into the clear heaven where God dwells.

To pray is to enter the treasure-house of God and to enrich
one's-self out of an inexhaustible storehouse.

To pray is to grasp heaven in one's arms,
to embrace the Deity within one's soul,
and to feel one's body made a temple of the Holy Spirit.

To pray is to cast off your burdens,
it is to tear away your rags,
it is to shake off your diseases,
it is to be filled with spiritual vigor,
it is to reach the highest point of Christian health.

God give us to be much in the holy art of prayer.

C. H. Spurgeon

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To stretch my hand and touch Him,
Though He be far away;
To raise my eyes and see Him
Through darkness as through day:
To lift my voice and call Him--
This is to pray!

To feel a hand extended
By One Who standeth near;
To view the love that shineth
In eyes serene and clear ;
To know that He is calling--
This is to hear!

Life Abiding and Abounding, W.H. Griffith Thomas, p 41

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Trials make the promise sweet;
Trials give new life to prayer;
Trials bring me to His feet,
Lay me low, and keep me there.

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Two went to pray? Oh, rather say
One went to brag, the other to pray;
One stands up close and treads on high
Where the other dares not send his eyes;
One nearer to God’s altar trod,
The other to the altar’s God.

–Richard Crashaw

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Twice blest, whose lives are faithful prayers,
Whose lives in higher love endure!
What souls possess themselves so pre!
Or is there blessedness like theirs.

Tennyson

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Unanswered yet? The Prayer your lips have pleaded
In Agony of heart these many years?
Does faith begin to fail; is hope departing,
And think you all in vain those falling tears?
Say not the Father hath not heard your prayer;
You shall have your desire sometime, somewhere.

Unanswered yet? Though when you first presented
This petition at the Father’s throne,
It seemed you could not wait the time of asking,
So urgent was your heart to make it known.
Though years have passed since then, do not despair;
The Lord will answer you sometime, somewhere.

Unanswered yet? Nay, do not say unanswered,
Perhaps your part is not yet wholly done,
The work began when first your prayer was uttered,
And God will finish what He has begun.
Keep the incense burning at the shrine of prayer,
His glory you shall see sometime, somewhere.

Unanswered yet? Faith cannot be unanswered;
Here feet are firmly planted on the Rock;
Amid the wildest storms she stands undaunted,
Nor quails before the loudest thunder shock.
She knows Omnipotence has heard her prayer,
And cries, “It shall be done sometime, somewhere.”

Ophelia Guyon Browning

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What a Friend We Have in Jesus

What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear,
What a privilege to carry,
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry,
everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged:
take it to the Lord in prayer!
Can we find a friend so faithful,
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness
take it to the Lord in prayer!

Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge
take it to the Lord in prayer!
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he’ll take and shield thee;
thou wilt find a solace there.

Joseph Scriven 1855; Charles C. Converse-1868

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What better can we do, than to the place
Repairing, where He judged us, prostrate fall
Before Him reverent; and there confess
Humbly our faults, and pardon beg; with tears
Watering the ground, and with our sighs the air
Frequenting?

(John Milton has Adam saying to Eve)

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Exhortation to Prayer.
1 Thess 5:17

What various hindrances we meet,
In coming to the mercy-seat!
Yet he who that knows the worth of prayer,
But wishes to be often there?

Prayer makes the darkened cloud withdraw,
Prayer climbs the ladder Jacob saw;
Give exercise to faith and love;
Brings every blessing from above.

Restraining prayer, we cease to fight;
Mayer makes the Christian’s armour bright;
And Satan trembles when he sees
The weakest saint upon his knees.

While Moses stood with arms spread wide,
Success was found on Israel’s side;
But when, through weariness, they failed,
That moment Amalek prevailed.

Have you no words? ah! think again;
Words flow apace when you complain,
And fill Your fellow-creatures’ ear
With the sad tale of all your care.

Were half the breath thus vainly spent,
To heaven in supplication sent,
Your cheerful song would oftener be,
“Hear what the Lord has done for me.”

Cowper A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship, William Gadsby, #394

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What wond’rous grace! who knows its full extent?
A creature, dust and ashes, speaks with God--
Tells all his woes, enumerates his wants,
Yea, pleads with Deity, and gains relief.
’Tis prayer, yes, ’tis ‘effectual, fervent prayer,’
Puts dignity on worms, proves life divine,
Makes demons tremble, breaks the darkest cloud,
And with a princely power prevails with God!
And shall this privilege become a task?
My God, forbid! Pour out thy Spirit's grace,
Draw me by love, and teach me how to pray.
Yea, let Thy holy unction from above
Beget, extend, maintain my intercourse
with Father, Son, and Spirit, Israel’s God,
Until petitions are exchanged for praise

Irons.

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When thou dost talk with God--by prayer, I mean—
Lift up pure hands; lay down all lust’s desires;
Fix thoughts on heaven; present a conscience clean:
Since holy blame to mercy’s throne aspires,
Confess faults’guilt, crave pardon for thy sin,
Tread holy paths, call grace to guide therein.

Even as Elias, mounting to the sky,
Did cast his mantle to the earth behind,
So, when the heart presents the prayer on high,
Exclude the world from traffic with the mind:
Lips near to God, and ranging heart within,
Is but vain babbling and converts to sin.

Robert Southwell

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When thou wakest in the morning,
Ere thou tread the untried way
Of the lot that lies before thee
Through the coming busy day,
Whether sunbeams promise brightness,
Whether dim forebodings fall,
Be thy dawning glad or gloomy,
Go to Jesus—tell Him all.

In the calm of sweet communion
Let thy daily work be done,
In the peace of soul outpouring
Care be banished, patience won.
And if earth with its enchantments
Seek thy spirit to enthrall,
Ere thou listen—ere thou answer,
Turn to Jesus—tell Him all.

Then as hour by hour glides by thee
Thou wilt blessed guidance know.
Thine own burden being lightened,
Thou canst bear another’s woe.
Thou canst help the weak ones onward,
Thou canst raise up those that fall,
But remember, while thou servest,
Still tell Jesus—tell Him all.

And if weariness creeps o’er thee
As the day wears to its close,
Or if sudden fierce temptations
Bring thee face to face with foes,
In thy weakness, in thy peril,
Raise to heaven a trustful call,
Strength and calm for every crisis
Come—in telling Jesus all.

G.M. Taylor
Life Abiding and Abounding, W.H. Griffith Thomas, p 78

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“I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.”

Where two or three together meet,
My love and mercy to repeat,
And tell what I have done;
There will I be, says God, to bless,
And every burdened soul redress,
Who worships at my throne.

Make one in this assembly, Lord,
Speak to each heart some healing word,
To set from bondage free;
Impart a kind celestial shower,
And grant that we may spend an hour
In fellowship with thee.

Guilt from the troubled heart remove,
Constrain the soul, by love, to love,
Release from slavish fear;
Then, though in tents of sin we groan,
We’ll sing like those around thy throne,
Till thou shall bring us here.

Kent A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship, William Gadsby, #1132

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Between Prayer and Sermon.
Mat 18:20

“Where two three, with sweet accord,
Obedient to their sovereign Lord,
Meet to recount his acts of grace,
And offer solemn prayer and praise;

“There,” says the Saviour, “will I be,
Amid this little company;
To them unveil my smiling face,
And shed my glories round the place.”

We meet at thy command, dear Lord;
Relying on thy faithful word;
Now fill our hearts with heavenly love.

S. Stennett A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship, William Gadsby, #453

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The Ground and Foundation of Prayer.
Heb 7:25

Wherewith shall we approach the Lord,
And bow before his throne?
By trusting in his faithful word,
And pleading Christ alone.

The blood, the righteousness, and love
Of Jesus, will we plead;
He lives within the vail above,
For us to intercede.

Sure ground, and sure foundation too,
We find in Jesus’ name;
Herein we every blessing view,
And every favour claim.

Then let his name for ever be
To us Supremely dear;
Our only, all-prevailing plea,
For all our hope is there.

This is the name the Father loves
To hear his children plead;
And all such pleading he approves,
And blesses them indeed.

Medley A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship, William Gadsby, #383

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Why need he pray, who held by filial right,
O’er all the world alike of thought and sense,
The fullness of his Sire’s omnipotence?
Why crave in prayer what was his own by might?

Vain is the question,--Christ was man in need,
And being man his duty was to pray.
The son of God confess’d the human need,
And doubless ask’d a blessing every day.
Nor ceases yet for sinful man to plead,
Nor will, till heaven and earth shall pass away.

Hartley Coleridge

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With Grateful Heart My Thanks I Bring

With grateful heart my thanks I bring
before the great thy praise I sing;
I worship in thy holy place
and praise thee for thy truth and grace;
for truth and grace together shine
in thy most holy word divine.

I cried to thee and thou dist save,
thy word of grace new courage gave;
the kings of earth shall thank thee, Lord,
for they have heard thy wondrous word;
yea, they shall come with songs of praise,
for great and glorious are thy ways.

O Lord, enthroned in glory bright,
thou reignest in the heav’nly height;
the proud in vain thy favor seek,
but thou hast mercy for the meek;
through trouble though my pathway be,
thou wilt revive and strengthen me.

Thou wilt stretch forth thy mighty arm
to save me when my foes alarm;
the work thou hast for me begun
shall by thy grace be fully done;
forever mercy dwells with thee;
O Lord, my maker, think on me.

From Psalm 138; Dmitri Bortniansky, 1825; The Psalter, 1912;

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“Believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”

Ye poor afflicted souls, give ear,
Who seek the Lord, but fear his frown;
What things ye ask in fervent prayer,
Believing, Christ will send them down.

If sin is loathsome to thy heart,
And shows a most ill-favoured face;
If guilt affords thee fearful smart,
It flows from Jesus’ love and grace.

A feast is now prepared for thee,
In spite of all thy unbelief;
A feast of mercy, sweetly free
For sinners and the sinners’ chief.

Take courage, then; ask and believe,
Expecting mercy from the Lord;
The promise runs, “Ask and receive,”
And Christ is faithful to his word.

O Lord, increase my feeble faith,
And give my straitened bosom room
To credit what thy promise saith,
And wait till thy salvation come.

A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship, William Gadsby, #897

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Yes, there's a power which man can wield,
When mortal aid is vain;
That eye, that arm, that love to reach,
That list'ning ear to gain.
That power is prayer, which soars on high,
Through Jesus, to the throne,
And moves the hand which moves the world To bring deliverance down.

CHM

(sample)

To Whom Do We Give?

When the Christian gives, he may give to individuals or to the church, but in the final analysis in doing so he is giving to God (see Proverbs 19:17; Matthew 6:2-4; 22:17-21; Acts 5:4; Romans 14:4-8; 2 Corinthians 8:5; Colossians 3:22-25).

Who Should Give?

Only those who have been united with Christ and His church by personal faith in Jesus Christ should give to the people of God and the work of God. In the Bible, every command or exhortation to give is addressed to believers. Taking funds from unbelievers is prohibited (3 John 7; see also 2 Corinthians 6:14-18).

Why Should God's People Give?

1. Giving is an obligation

In the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 14:22-29; Haggai 1:1-11; Malachi 3:7-12) and in the New (Romans 12:13; Galatians 2:10; Hebrews 13:16; 1 John 3:17), the people of God are commanded to give for certain needs. Failing to give for such causes when one is able is therefore an act of disobedience. Not all giving is required, however (see Leviticus 7:16; 2 Corinthians 8:1-15).

2. Giving is a privilege

The churches of Macedonia were models of generosity in giving, even though they were poor. They gladly gave out of gratitude toward God and love for their brethren (2 Corinthians 8 and 9; see especially 8:4, 9). Paul reminds us of Jesus' teaching that "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35).

3. Giving is one dimension of our stewardship

Very often Jesus spoke of the stewardship of His people in terms of money (see Luke 16:1-13). Our faithfulness as stewards in this "little thing" of money has a bearing on what other (and greater) responsibilities we will be given (see Luke 16:9-12).

4. Giving is an act of worship

The Old Testament saints could only approach God in worship with a sacrifice, and this sacrifice was a contribution, whether whole or in part. In the New Testament, contributions were also described as sacrifices offered up in worship (see Hebrews 9:1-10; 10:1-25; 13:10-16).

No offering is taken during the teaching hour. This is so that unbelievers will not feel obligated to give, or think that their giving would contribute to their salvation. Unbelievers do not need to give to God, but to receive the gift of salvation which He offers to them in Jesus Christ. The offering is taken during the worship time, after the Lord's Supper, to encourage the saints to give as an act of worship.

5. Giving is an investment

Jesus encouraged believers to give in order to "lay up treasure in heaven" (Matthew 6:19-21). Investing earthly money in the advancement of the kingdom of God is one way in which we can lay up spiritual treasure in heaven (see Luke 16:1-13).

6. Giving is an act of self-sacrifice

All Christian service should be a sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2). In giving, we should not seek man's praise, but God's (Matthew 6:2-4). We should not give with the hope of getting ahead in this life, but with the faith that God will reward us in heaven (Luke 14:12-14). We should not give under pressure, but willingly and cheerfully, with gratitude for God's grace to us, according to our ability (2 Corinthians 8 and 9).

7. Giving is an expression of brotherly love

Giving is an expression of brotherly love and of Christian unity. The principle is set down in texts such as Matthew 25:31-46; Luke 3:11; Romans 12:13; James 2:15-17 and 1 John 3:15-18. The practice of this principle is seen in Acts 2:42-47; 4:32-35; 11:27-30; 2 Corinthians 8:1-5; Philippians 4:14-19.

For What Did God's People Give?

In the Old Testament, the Israelites gave for the construction of the temple and for the on-going maintenance of its worship and ministry (Exodus 25:1-9; 35:4-9; 2 Kings 12:4-16; 1 Chronicles 29:1-17; Matthew 17:24-27). They also gave to the poor and needy (Leviticus 19:9-10; Deuteronomy 24:19-22; Mark 10:21; Acts 2:44-45; 4:34-35; 11:27-30; Romans 12:13; 2 Corinthians 8 and 9; Galatians 2:10). Old and New Testament saints also gave in remuneration for ministry which they received (see Numbers 18; Luke 10:1-9; Galatians 6:6; 1 Corinthians 9:1-14). They supported those who ministered to others (Luke 8:1-3; Acts 18:5; 2 Corinthians 11:8; Philippians 4:14-19; 2 John 7-11; 3 John 5-8). There was also ministry to those who were suffering and in need (even imprisoned) for the sake of the gospel (Matthew 25:35-40; Philippians 2:25-30; Hebrews 13:3).

How Much Should God's People Give?

In one sense, God's people are to give everything to God (Matthew 19:21; Luke 12:15; 12:33; 14:33). One's loyalty and devotion cannot be shared between God and material possessions (Matthew 6:24). In another sense, we recognize that we really own nothing, that all things belongs to God and we are stewards of them. We may have possessions, but we are not to be possessive (1 Corinthians 7:30). From Acts (2:44-45; 4:32-35; 12:12) we conclude that the early Christians did not claim anything as their own, but neither did they sell everything they possessed. They would, from time to time, sell what they did not need to meet the needs of others, as needs arose. Paul makes it clear that people should give only what they have to give (2 Corinthians 8:12), and this according to one's ability and according to what he or she has purposed to give (2 Corinthians 8:3, 10-14).

What Can God's People Give?

We tend to think primarily of money when we speak of gifts or contributions. Certainly money is one form of contribution to God's people and His work. But in addition to money, other possessions may be given. For example, the materials necessary for the construction of the Tabernacle were donated (see Exodus 25:1-8). Food and clothing may be shared with those in need (Luke 3:11). Another form of contribution is that of labor (see Exodus 35:30--36:5; Philippians 2:25-30; Hebrews 13:16 ["doing good"]).

How Were Monies Obtained?

One can hardly use the term "solicitation" when referring to the scriptural teaching and practice of obtaining contributions. Giving is often spontaneous, though some obligations are set down as commands (see Galatians 6:6). Jesus never solicited funds for His personal support or ministry. In fact, when He urged people to give up their money, He instructed them to give to the poor, not to give to Him or to His ministry. There were a faithful few who sustained our Lord and His followers (Luke 8:1-3). The same seems to be true of Paul, who often labored with his own hands in order to minister physically and financially to others (see Acts 20:33-35; 1 Corinthians 9:3-14; 1 Thessalonians 2:8-9; 2 Thessalonians 3:7-9). The Christian should never willingly become an unnecessary burden to the church (Galatians 6:4-5; 2 Thessalonians 3:7-15), and the family should be the first to minister to their own in times of need (1 Timothy 5:3-8). In the New Testament church, the needs of others were made known, and people were encouraged to meet these needs (see Acts 11:27-30; Romans 12:13). The normal pattern is that we should work to meet our own needs, as well as the needs of others (Acts 20:33-35; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15; Ephesians 4:28). It would seem from our Lord's strong reaction to the abuse of the temple in His day that profit-making efforts ought not to be carried out in the church (Matthew 21:12-17). Funds to carry on the work of God were not solicited from unbelievers (3 John 7-8). We should therefore avoid any fund-raising from those whose spiritual condition is unclear or from those we know to be unsaved.

How Were Contributions Handled and Disbursed?

Not all ministry with money or goods was carried on through the church. In the Old Testament, corners of the field were not harvested, and other gleanings were left for the poor (Leviticus 19:9-10). In the New Testament we also see that some giving was done privately, such as through the family (see 1 Timothy 5:4).

Paul was meticulous concerning the way in which monies were collected and distributed so that no allegation of impropriety would arise. There was great effort made to assure donors that the monies given were used for the purposes for which it was contributed. Paul sought to maintain a good testimony, not only before the church but also before all men (see 2 Corinthians 8:20-21). Peter's example in dealing with the deception of Ananias and Sapphira indicates that church leadership must require, as much as possible, that the donors be absolutely honest and forthright in their contributions (see Acts 5:1-6).

General Guidelines For Fund-Raising

1. Fund-Raising, Scriptural Teaching, and IRS Regulations

Paul was conscientious in his handling of contributions so he would demonstrate a high regard "for what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men." Paul also instructed the saints to "pay their taxes" (Romans 13:6). It is the intent of the Elders of SBC to interpret and apply the laws of the land in a conservative manner and to avoid participating in any questionable contributions. This has led us to the following policies regarding gifts to Sample Bible Chapel:

Gifts to SBC must be gifts. In order for a contribution to be considered tax-deductible, it must be given, without strings, to the church, to be used as the Elders determine. Therefore, gifts cannot be designated by the donor to be "passed through" to other individuals.

Gifts may only be designated to funds which have been established by the Elders of SBC. These designations should be made by use of an envelope, not on the check itself, to avoid even the appearance of "pass through" should the IRS audit the donor.

SBC cannot make purchases on behalf of individuals in order to avoid paying sales tax.

SBC is a non-profit corporation, and as such, we will not engage in activities or the sale of items which generate a profit. If books or materials are sold, they can only be sold at a price that covers the actual cost of the item. Donated items are an exception.

SBC will not engage in business activities, and neither do we wish that others use our building, our meetings, or our directory for conducting business.

SBC does not normally give receipts nor do we generally acknowledge in-kind gifts. Neither do we establish the value of items which are donated to the church. The determination of the value of such gifts is the responsibility of the donor, and the donor will also be responsible to justify this value if questioned by the IRS. If necessary and requested, SBC can verify by letter the donation of a gift for tax purposes.

2. Other Policies Concerning Contributions or Fund-Raising Activities

In general, no fund-raising should be carried out at SBC which does not conform to the biblical principles outlined above.

Fund-raising activities should only be conducted with the approval of the Elders of SBC through the appropriate leadership channel, i.e., Missions, Youth ministries, etc.

Generally, fund-raising for organizations outside of SBC and not supported by SBC should be raised outside of SBC.

The meeting of the church is not to be considered a forum or occasion for fund-raising activities. If approved by the Elders, any fund-raising activity would normally come at the end of the meeting, at the time announcements are given.

Fund-raising should not be done in a way that makes people feel obligated to give under compulsion, rather than willingly and joyfully.

Fund-raising for God's work should not be done among unbelievers.

Fund-raising for entertainment (e.g. a trip to an amusement park) should be done privately or in a context separate from the church meeting.

Funds for the personal benefit and/or entertainment of individuals should be raised by legitimate labor or by the sale of something which has a real value.

Fund-raising should not seek to divert the contribution of monies which would normally be given to support the ministry at SBC.

Gifts to mission boards should be according to their instructions, but the donor should satisfy himself that the board is financially reputable and following IRS non-profit regulations. The exception to this is those who serve as missionaries who are approved and/or supported by SBC. Often it is best to support or contribute to these individuals through a contribution made to the mission board under which they serve.

We realize that there are ministries and individuals outside of our church body which are worthy of the involvement and support of those within our congregation. We do believe that giving to the local church is a priority. Our church building, meetings, and publications (such as the directory or newsletter) should not be used to raise funds for ministries, organizations and individuals outside our church without specific approval by the elders.

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Guidelines

The Christian Education Commission shall be responsible for the planning and general supervision of the education ministries of the church. Its goal is to provide unified direction to those educational ministries so that each person in the body is being admonished and taught with all wisdom in order to present everyone complete in Christ (Col. 1:28).

Structure

The Christian Education Commission shall be formed with representatives from all phases of the church's educational ministries. A chairman shall be appointed by the Board of Elders to provide guidance and accountability to the commission. A church elder shall also be appointed to the commission as spiritual overseer and shepherd in educational ministries.

Representatives shall be sought from the four major educational divisions: adult, youth, children, and support.

A coordinator for each division shall be appointed to assist in communication and accountability.

Responsibilities

General Areas

(1) Development of a Total Education Program. The general education policy of the church will be established by the commission and it will see to the development of a specific educational program to achieve the purposes set forth in the general educational policy. The commission is responsible for the implementing of its policies through a constructive, cohesive, Christ-centered Christian education program. It shall set the direction and spiritual quality of the Christian education program through prayer, example and guidance.

(2) Regular Evaluations of Church Educational Needs. The commission will periodically make a careful survey of the educational program, facilities, equipment, budget, leadership, and curriculum to discover strengths and weaknesses. After reviewing their findings, the commission will then recommend changes and improvements in the educational program.

(3) Oversight of Objectives for Christian Education. Clear-cut objectives or goals encourage accomplishment. The commission will assist groups in defining objectives and developing people and programs to meet them. It seeks to keep the entire educational program established on the Word of God. It also seeks to maintain an atmosphere of educational awareness in the body by constantly communicating important developments and opportunities for service.

Specific Areas

(1) Selection and Approval of Educational Curriculum. The commission, through consultation with the educational leadership, approves all curricula for use in the church. Where a published curriculum is not used or is unavailable, guidelines shall be established by the commission for the creative work of teachers and leaders.

(2) Selection of Educational Personnel. Surveying workers needed, listing available workers, setting standards for workers, developing a plan for recruitment, and approving workers represent the major duties of the commission. It also seeks to unify worker recruitment, protecting church members from becoming overloaded, and giving aid in securing personnel when necessary.

(3) Training of Education Leadership. An adequate and continuous program of teacher and leader education will be a high priority of the commission. This should include a standard of certification for all teachers and workers in the church educational ministry.

Financial Policies and Administration of the Educational Budget

Work closely with the Stewardship Commission, and be responsible for the adequate budgeting of funds for educational programs.

Provision of Adequate Facilities and Equipment

The commission shall foster educational awareness and understanding in the body utilizing methods such as displays, open house for parents, and reports to the congregation. It will also coordinate the use of available classroom space for education.

Coordination of Educational Activities

As leaders supervise and administer the work, the commission shall receive regular reports and observe programs in action. It shall serve as a clearing house for schedules and activities to coordinate the total educational ministry. Communication with the church calendar planner for all commission related events is important.

Study of Trends

Educational needs will be studied in the light of newer developments and changing conditions. The commission will be alert to the trends in Christian education and to activities and programs, equipment and materials that can be profitably utilized in the local church.

Evaluation and Reporting

The commission will constantly evaluate all the educational work of the church to assure that it is scripturally sound and spiritually motivated.

The commission will prepare a report of the year's accomplishments in Christian education to be presented as part of the Board of Elders' Annual Report to the congregation.

Areas of Responsibility

Children’s Ministries

Be responsible for the educational activities of children's programs from nursery through elementary school age. Current examples include Children's Church, Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, AWANA Children's Program, training conferences, and all other children's activities throughout the week.

Youth Ministries

Be responsible for the youth ministries from junior high through the college age. Current examples include Sunday Bible classes, Bible studies, Sunday evening activities, and other activities that occur during the week.

Adult Ministries

Be responsible for adult education ministries. Current examples include Sunday adult Bible classes, special training ministries and other activities that occur during the week.

Support Ministries

Be responsible for the church library, audio-visual resources, sports activities and overall camping program as they relate to educational ministries as listed above.

Library

Be responsible for the oversight of the church library including the appointment of the librarian.

Publicity of Events

Be responsible to see that announcements of upcoming events provided for the bulletin and newsletter as deemed appropriate.

Areas Needing Approval of the Board of Elders

(1) New programs or major expansion of existing ones.

(2) Annual Christian Education budget

(3) Expenditures outside of approved budget

(4) Program leadership and leadership standards

(5) Relationship with other ministries within the Church: Elders, Pastoral Staff, Discipleship/Evangelism Commissions. In relation to the Missions Commission, seek to develop an awareness and educate regarding missions by working with the commission to include available missionaries in annual programming.

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Purpose

The Deaconate assists the Board of Elders in the care and nurturing of the local church body. Their unique purpose is to carry out the kind of work described in the Book of Acts, chapter 6: to wait on those in need in order that the pastors, elders, and leaders may have adequate time and opportunity to "devote themselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word of God." They are ready to do any work that is a logical and practical extension of the work of Christ through the local body of believers. Certain of these tasks are ongoing and will be done in an orderly fashion by the Deaconate, but some shall be on an "as needed" basis as directed by the Board of Elders.

Structure

(1) The Deaconate has been divided into "corps" or teams to help distribute the load of the duties of this particular body.

(2) It has a chairman, appointed Board of Elders, vice chairman, and secretary who is selected by the Deaconate itself.

(3) Monthly meetings are held on Commission night, at which time the work is reviewed, ideas and observations are shared and accountability is strengthened. Meetings by the corps are held as needed.

Responsibilties

General Areas

(1) The assigned elder and the commission chairman will guide the direction and spiritual quality of this commission through guidance, example and prayer.

(2) Implement, administrate, uphold, and carry out the Deaconate policy

Specific Areas

(1) The Festival Corp: Fellowship activities such as dinners and receptions.

(2) The Comfort Corp: Bringing comfort and encouragement to those that have been suffering in some way or are experiencing the loss of a loved one. They seek to organize the meeting of any of the practical needs such people may be facing.

(3) The Sharing Corp: The food cupboard, the benevolent fund, meeting the needs of the poor and the needy in an orderly fashion.

(4) The Decorating Corp: Overseeing that the seasonal decorating items in the church facility are accomplished in a practical and orderly fashion.

(5) The Ordinance Corp: Organizing and preparing the Lord's Supper, baptisms, and child dedication services in a regular and orderly fashion.

(6) The Visitation Corp: The Home Calling Ministry, shepherding the flock by giving personal attention to individuals in the body; listening to needs and staying in touch.

(7) The Hospitality Corp: Organizing and promoting the New Members Information Class and seeing that those interested in making this their church home are made welcome and are enfolded into the church family.

(8) Other Corps will be added as the need arises or as instructed by the Board of Elders.

Miscellaneous Responsibilities

(1) Preparation of an Annual Activities Report: This will be incorporated as part of the Board of Elders' annual report to the congregation

(2) Coordination with the Church Calendar Planner.

(3) Publicity of Activities and Planned Events.

Areas Needing Approval of Elder Board

(1) Budget Expenditures Outside of Approved Budget. Also includes any expenditures over the established guidelines.

Coordination with Other Ministries

The Deaconate receives most all of its information from the elders in terms of duties and responsibilities, yet it remains constantly sensitive to the church calendar and to the activities of each of the commissions and seeks to anticipate or meet needs in the above categories as they become apparent.

The various corps will work in concert with the other commissions in discharging their duties.

The Ordinance Corps schedules its various activities in strict concert with the staff.

The Sharing Corps will work with various relief and aid organizations outside the church (e.g., the Union Gospel Mission).

Other Ministry Areas

The Deaconate remains sensitive to the needs of those outside the local church, and maintains a watchful eye on struggling like-minded fellowships with financial or emotional needs.

Such individuals as the rejected and unwanted (e.g., the refugee) is the target of the Deaconate's concern when a spiritual ministry is available in tandem with the meeting of physical needs.