Why is there so little urgency

    to get time to pray?

Why is there so little forethought 

    in the laying out of time and schedule

  so as to secure a large portion 

    of each day for prayer?

Why is there so much talking,

    yet so little prayer?

Why is there so much running to and fro,

    yet so little prayer?

Why so much bustle and business,

    yet so little prayer?

Why so many meetings with our fellow men.

    yet so few meetings with You?

Why so little being alone,

    so little thirsting of the soul 

        for the calm. sweet, hours of unbroken solitude,

    where You and your child hold fellowship 

        as if they could never part?

It is the scarcity of these solitary hours 

    that not only injures my own growth in grace

    but also makes me such an unprofitable member of Your church,

         and renders my life useless.

 

Horatius Bonar, 1808-1889, Scottish Preacher and Hymnist

Celtic Daily Prayer, freely modified

 

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Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer;
    listen to my plea for grace.
In the day of my trouble I call upon you,
    for you answer me.