Prayer

Prayer is the soul's sincere desire,
Utter'd or unexpress'd
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 simplelst form of speech
That infant lips can try;
Prayer, the sublimest strains that reach
The Majesty on high.

Prayer is the contrite sinner's voice,
Returning from his ways;
While angels in their songs rejoice,
And cry, "Behold he prays"

Prayer is the Christian's vital breath,
The Christian's native air;
His watch-word at the gates of death;
He enters heaven with prayer.

The saints in prayer appear as one,
In word, in deed, and in mind,
While with the Father and the Son
Sweet fellowship they find.

Nor prayers is made of earth alone;
The Holy Spirit pleads,
And Jesus, on the eternal throne,
For sinners intercedes.

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!

-James Montgomery