Hymn of the day - on prayer....

(Those who were at the workshop I facilitated this evening on how to pray in

 church or at a meeting will understand why this hymn was on my mind.)

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 contrite sinners' voice, 
 returning from their way, 
 while angels in their songs rejoice 
 and cry, "Behold, they pray!" 

5. Prayer is the Christians' vital breath, 
 the Christians' native air; 
 their watchword at the gates of death; 
 they enter heaven with prayer. 

6. 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, 1771-1854.