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.