January 13, 2021 (Wednesday)
“I have so much to do today that I’m going to need to spend three hours in prayer in order to be able to get it all done.”
— Martin Luther, Cyclopedia of religious anecdotes
Annotation (https://quotecatalog.com):
“The most authoritative source is from the 1923 Cyclopedia of Religious Anecdotes, page 303, compiled by James Gilchrist Lawson. In context it reads fully: ‘Work, work from early until late. In fact, I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.’ The most authoritative source is from the 1923 Cyclopedia of Religious Anecdotes, page 303, compiled by James Gilchrist Lawson. In context it reads fully: ‘Work, work from early until late. In fact, I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.’ Luther said this when responding to a question about what his plans for the day were.
The hymn for today suggests that prayer in the morning is a great idea for the Christian. It goes on to say that prayer is appropriate when we are dealing with temptation or when we are about to speak angry words, or when we are beset by the many trials of life.
DID YOU THINK TO PRAY?
Mary A. Kidder
1876
E’er you left your room this morning
Did you think to pray?
In the name of Christ our Savior
Did you sue for loving favor as a shield today?
Oh, how praying rests the weary
Prayer will change the night to day
So when life seems dark and dreary
Don’t forget to pray
When you’ve met with great temptation
Did you think to pray?
By his dying love and merit
Did you claim the Holy Spirit
As your guide today?
Oh, how praying rests the weary
Prayer will change the night to day
So when life seems dark and dreary
Don’t forget to pray
When your heart was filled with anger
Did you think to pray?
Did you plead for grace my brother
That you might forgive another
Who had crossed your way
Oh, how praying rests the weary
Prayer will change the night to day
So when life seems dark and dreary
Don’t forget to pray, don’t forget to pray
When sore trials came upon you,
Did you think to pray?
When your soul was bowed in sorrow,
Balm of Gilead did you borrow
At the gates of day?
Oh, how praying rests the weary
Prayer will change the night to day
So when life seems dark and dreary
Don’t forget to pray, don’t forget to pray