Sweet Hour of Prayer

Heavenly Father;


Forty hours of prayer. One hour of prayer. Either way you describe it, it sounds daunting and long. Until we try it. Until we join you for an hour and realize that the time is too short. What joy you bring us when we pray.

Thank you, God, for the inspiration for this ministry. Three years ago, you led us to try -- to take the risk of believing, for giving us the audacity and the courage to believe that we could fill forty hours with constant prayer. I confess that we are so often not a church that prays, but for this time you transform us into a church of prayer. Thank you for that.


Thank you, God, that I am given the blessing and the grace of be included as part of the team that plans this ministry. I thank you for Steve, Mary and Jeff, and for the grace of working together to organize this ministry once again this year. I thank you for friends who pray.

Thank you, God, that for a 40 hour prayer vigil, you inspire 50 people to pray for a total of 63 hours. Some of these people return to the vigil, knowing of the sweetness and wonder of an hour of prayer. Others are experiencing it for the first time. I prayer for those who are returning, that they may find new joy, and I prayer for those who are brave enough to try it for the first time, and ask that you encourage them and grant them a positive experience, so that they will return.

Thank you, God, that you breathe you breath on this vigil, that you bring it to life, that you use it to change us, and that you make your presence so obviously known.

Thank you, God, for these 40 hours of prayer and for the grace-filled privilege of helping to make it a reality.

In the name of your son, Amen.