Dance like no one's watching

Sang this song at church today – 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 your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.

I always thought that the focus of this song was that Jesus is our Lord and Friend.  During the sermon however, the speaker shared that the words of this song were taken from a poem titled  “Pray Without Ceasing” by Joseph Scriven.  Scriven’s mother was quite seriously ill in Ireland at that time and Scriven was unable to visit her (he was living in Canada) as he did not have enough money.  The title of the poem struck me and so I went to re-read the words of the song, and I suddenly saw this from a whole new angle… not that Jesus isn’t our Friend but perhaps the point Scriven was trying to get across was that we should “pray without ceasing”.