Prayer ...

In the last couple of days, I have written to several friends and stated that I was praying for them or for another friend that we shared in common. Each friend was going through something very, very difficult -- the death of a son, the illness of a loved one, and other difficulties too complicated to discuss. As I told each that I would be praying, I prayed for each and have continued to pray - awaking at night and thinking and praying countless times during the day. Tonight, a friend sent me this hymn which reminded me of some of the truths about prayer and reminded me again of the promises that I had made to my friends to pray for them.

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Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire,
Unuttered or expressed;
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 Heav’n with prayer.

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

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

No prayer is made by man alone
The Holy Spirit pleads,
And Jesus, on th’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