The Cyber Hymnal ‎#5649

5649. 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,
His watchword at the gates of death;
He enters Heav’n with prayer.

5. Prayer is the contrite sinner’s voice,
Returning from his ways,
While angels in their songs rejoice
And cry, Behold, he prays!

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

7. No prayer is made by man alone
The Holy Spirit pleads,
And Jesus, on th’eternal throne,
For sinners intercedes.

8. 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.

Text Information

• First Line: Prayer is the soul's sincere desire
• Title: Prayer Is the Soul's Sincere Desire
• Author: James Montgomery (1818)
• Meter: CM
• Language: English
• Copyright: Public Domain
• Notes: He wrote the lyrics at the request of Edward Bickersteth, who wanted them for his book "Treatise on Prayer." Montgomery called this "the most attractive hymn I ever wrote." Alternate tunes: BYEFIELD, Thomas Hastings, 1840; PRAYER (BABCOCK), Maltbie D. Babcock, 1889; ST. AGNES, John B. Dykes, 1866

Tune Information

• Name: CAMPMEETING
• Harmonizer: Robert G. McCutchan (1935)
• Meter: CM
• Incipit: 17222 13332 34653
• Key: F Major
• Source: American camp meeting melody
• Copyright: Public Domain