546. Prayer is the soul's sincere desire

1 Prayer is the soul's sincere desire,
unuttered or expressed,
the motion of a hidden fire
that trembles in the breast.

2 Prayer is the burden of a sigh,
the falling of a tear,
the upward glancing of an eye
when none but God is near.

3 Prayer is the simplest form of speech
that infant lips can try;
prayer the sublimest strains that reach
the Majesty on high.

4 Prayer is the Christian's vital breath,
the Christian's native air,
their watchword at the gates of death,
they enter heaven with prayer.

5 Prayer is not made by us alone:
the Holy Spirit pleads,
and Jesus, on the eternal throne,
for sinners intercedes.

6 O Christ, by whom we come to God,
the Life, the Truth, the Way,
the path of prayer yourself have trod,
Lord, teach us how to pray.

Text Information
First Line: Prayer is the soul's sincere desire
Author: James Montgomery (1771-1854)
Meter: CM
Language: English
Publication Date: 2005
Scripture: ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Topic: Life in Christ: Our Response to Christ - In Devotion; Prayer
Tune Information
Name: COLESHILL
Meter: CM
Key: g minor
Source: Melody from Barton's The Psalms of David in Metre, Dublin, 1706, later form; harmonised Church Hymnary, 3rd edition, 1973



Media
More media are available on the text authority and tune authority pages.

Suggestions or corrections? Contact us