Scripture Verse

Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Introduction

Words: Ed­na R. Wor­rell, 1906.

Music: Cro­a­tia Ed­na R. Wor­rell, 1906 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Wor­rell (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Anecdote

I was stand­ing at a bank coun­ter in Li­ver­pool, wait­ing for a clerk to come; I picked up a pen and be­g­an to print on a blot­ter in large let­ters, two words, which had gripped me like a vice: PRAY THROUGH. I kept talk­ing to a friend, and print­ing un­til I had the blot­ter filled from top to bot­tom with a col­umn.

I trans­act­ed my bu­si­ness and went away. The next day my friend came to see me, and he said he had a strik­ing sto­ry to tell me.

A bu­si­ness man came in­to the bank soon af­ter we had gone. He had grown dis­cour­aged with bu­si­ness trou­bles. He start­ed to trans­act some bu­si­ness with the same clerk over that blot­ter, when his eye caught the long column of PRAY THROUGH.

He asked who wrote those words, and when he was told exclaimed: That is the ve­ry mes­sage I need­ed. I will pray through. I have tried to wor­ry through in my own strength, and have mere­ly men­tioned my trou­bles to God; now I am go­ing to pray the si­tu­a­tion through un­til I get light.

Charles M. Al­ex­an­der

Lyrics

Don’t stop praying! the Lord is nigh;
Don’t stop praying! He’ll hear your cry,
God has promised, and He is true,
Don’t stop praying! He’ll answer you.

Don’t stop praying for every need,
Don’t stop praying! the Lord will heed;
No petition to Him is small;
Don’t stop praying! He’ll give you all.

Don’t stop praying when led to sin;
Don’t stop praying! that good may win;
Christ was tempted and understands;
Don’t stop praying! He’ll hold your hands.

Don’t stop praying when bowed with grief;
Don’t stop praying! you’ll get relief;
Troubles never escape God’s sight;
Don’t stop praying! He’ll make it right.

Don’t stop praying, but have more trust;
Don’t stop praying! for pray we must;
Faith will banish a mount of care;
Don’t stop praying! God answers prayer.