An hour can mean a length of time, but also a particular moment in time. I do not know which the song writer had in mind; the latter would be more scriptural. Jesus warns of those who make long prayers for a pretense. It’s the quality not the quantity that counts with God. A brief prayer can be profound.
Elijah prayed sixty-three words and the fire fell, Our Lord’s prayer has sixty-six words, and it’s been a comfort to millions for over two thousand years; the Publican prayed seven words and came out justified; Peter prayed three words and was saved from sinking, and blessed Mary Magdalene said one word, “Rabboni” (“Master”), and defined worship for all of time.
Dr. M.R. De Haan used to say, “Usually those who pray long in public pray little in private.” And A.W. Pink comments, “Wordy prayers are usually windy ones.” But I think Martin Luther said it best: “When thou prayest let thy words be few, but thy thoughts and affections many, and above all let them be profound. The less thou speakest the better thou prayest.”
Let us follow the Greek’s philosophy, by “Putting an ocean of truth in a drop of Speech.”
"Pray at all times. Pray when you have time to pray. Pray when you do not have time to pray. Pray without ceasing. Then pray some more." ~John Lawson
I think the insights from J.I. Packer and John Lawson might contradict on the surface, but they were addressing the same topic from different angles.
Should have been" Amen on the 18 years of Bob Jones University Theology Education words in their prayers. hit send too soon