Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire

Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire

Uttered

or unexpressed;

The motion of a hidden fire

That trembles in the breast.

Prayer is the burden of a sigh

The falling of a tear;

The upward glancing of an eye

When none but God is near.

Prayer is the simplest form of speech

That infant lips can try;

Prayer the sublimest strains that reach

The Majesty on high.

Prayer is the Christian’s vital breath

The Christian’s native air;

His watchword at the gates of death;

He enters rest with prayer.

The saints in prayer appear as one

In word

and deed

and mind;

While with the Father and the Son

Sweet fellowship they find.

O Thou

by whom we come to God

The Life

the Truth

the Way

The path of prayer Thyself hast trod—

Lord

teach us how to pray.