The Joy Of Prayer Released Today!

DIXON, Ill. - June 7, 2015 - PRLog -- I can think of no better way to begin a  discussion on the joy of prayer than by
sharing the poem “Hymn of  Joy” written by Henry van Dyke in  the year 1907. Henry van Dyke wrote this beautiful hymn with the intention of it being
sung to the music of Ode to Joy composed  by Ludwig van Beethoven. I doubt anyone can read this hymn without the grand music
of Ode to Joy coming to mind and feeling the joy of God swell within.

The Hymn of Joy by Henry van Dyke
Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,
God of glory, Lord of love;
hearts unfold like flowers before Thee,
Opening to the Sun above,
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
fill us with the light of day!
All Thy works with joy surround Thee,
earth and heaven reflect Thy rays,
stars and angels sing around Thee,
center of unbroken praise:
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Flowery meadow, flashing sea,
chanting bird and flowing fountain,
call us to rejoice in Thee.
Thou art giving and forgiving,
ever blessing, ever blest,
well-spring of the joy of living,
ocean-depth of happy rest!
Thou the Father, Christ our  Brother,—
all who live in love are Thine:
Teach us how to love each other,
lift us to the Joy Divine.
Mortals join the mighty chorus,
which the morning stars began;
Father-love is reigning o'er us,
brother-love binds man to man.
Ever singing, march we onward,
victors in the midst of strife;
joyful music lifts us sun-ward
in the triumph song of life.


For the kindle version of This little book I
am embedding the following youtube link
so you can listen to the Hymn of Joy being
performed by Libera. This selection was
taken from a live concert recording made
at the at Royal Albert Hall, London,
England. Those of you reading the
paperback edition can still listen to this
wonderful choir by typing the web address
into your browser when you have access
to world wide web.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMY3ivdNzwE



There are many prayer books and devotionals available to you, so I am sure
that with a little research on your part you will find one you will be comfortable using on a daily basis. Remember the point of this little book is
to encourage you to spend time alone with God on a regular basis, not only in times of need, not to try to manipulate or extort rewards or things of this world from Him, but to spend time with Him to recognize and develop your unique relationship with Him. There is where you will find joy that the things of this world cannot provide.
   One word of warning, during this time of continued economic crisis there are many false teachers in the world deceiving many into thinking God is little more than a magical vending machine where if you pay your tithe and perhaps a little more than your tithe to the preacher in question God will answer all your prayers, and that if you give your money to that particular teacher God will make you rich. As tempting as they may sound I recommend you avoid those people. They may call themselves prosperity preachers, but the only prosperity they are concerned with is their own. I suspect God might just consider them idolaters worshiping the gift rather than the giver. The only people getting rich in these cults are the preachers collecting money from the poor and desperate among their congregation. While it is true that God will provide for all your needs, remember “Seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Mathew 6:33


Seek God first and foremost, not for what He can give you, but because of who
He is, and who He is to you. Find your joy in prayer in spending time with your
heavenly father. Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus to you-ward. Quench not the Spirit; despise not prophesying; prove all things; hold fast that which is good; abstain from every form of evil. I Thessalonians 5:16-22

"Think of prayer as the breath in our lungs and the blood from our hearts. Our blood flows and our breathing continues 'without ceasing'; we are not even conscious of it, but it never stops. And we are not always conscious of Jesus keeping us in perfect  oneness with God, but if we are obeying Him, He always is. Prayer is not an exercise; it is the life of the saint."
Oswald Chambers, from My Utmost for His Highest.

The Joy of Prayer is available in paperback and kindle versions at: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3...