When in the Hour of Deepest Need, LBW 303, Verses 1-3
Devotion
When in the hour of deepest need
we know not where to look for aid;
when days and nights of anxious thought
no help or counsel yet have brought;
Our comfort then is this alone:
that we may meet before your throne
and cry to you, O faithful God,
for rescue from our sorry lot.
For you have made a promise true
to pardon those who flee to you,
through him whose name alone is great,
our Savior and our advocate.
And so we come, O God, today,
and all our woes before you lay;
for sorely tried, cast down, we stand,
perplexed by fears on ev'ry hand.
Oh, from our sins hide not your face;
absolve us through your boundless grace!
Be with us in our anguish still!
Free us at last from ev'ry ill!
So we with all our hearts each day
to you our glad thanksgiving pay,
then walk obedient to your word,
and now and ever praise you, Lord.
When you pause to think about it, prayer is an astonishing exercise. What a miracle it is to be able to speak to the creator of the universe and trust that we are heard! By commanding us to pray and promising to hear us, God has given us an extraordinary gift, and we do well to use that gift in every time of need.
I think we often set up barriers for ourselves which prevent us from praying. We feel disconnected and so we put off praying until we feel more spiritual; we don't want to seem selfish and so we don't pray for ourselves; or we think our words insufficient and so we hide them. But God delights in hearing from us, and God loves to answer prayers, no matter how small they may be. We pray not because we are worthy, but because God is gracious to listen.
Prayer
Loving God, thank you for the gift of prayer. Be with me throughout this day, and give to me everything you see that I need. Amen.