Prayer is the soul's sincere desire, <br />Unuttered or expressed; <br />The motion of a hidden fire, <br />That trembles in the breast. <br /> <br />Prayer is the burden of a sigh, <br />The falling of a tear; <br />The upward glancing of an eye, <br />When none but God is near. <br /> <br />Prayer is the simplest form of speech <br />That infant lips can try; <br />Prayer, the sublimest strains that reach <br />The Majesty on high. <br /> <br />Prayer is the Christian's vital breath, <br />The Christian's native air; <br />His watchword at the gates of death - <br />He enters heaven with prayer. <br /> <br />Prayer is the contrite sinner's voice, <br />Returning from his ways; <br />While angels in their songs rejoice <br />And cry, 'Behold, he prays!' <br /> <br />The saints in prayer appear as one, <br />In word, in deed, and mind; <br />While with the Father and the Son, <br />Sweet fellowship they find. <br /> <br />No prayer is made by man alone <br />The Holy Spirit pleads; <br />And Jesus, on th' eternal throne <br />For sinners intercedes. <br /> <br />O Thou! by Whom we come to God, <br />The Life, the Truth, the Way; <br />The path of prayer Thyself hast trod: <br />Lord, teach us how to pray. <br /> <br />As fail the waters from the deep, <br />As summer brooks run dry, <br />Man lieth down in dreamless sleep, <br />His life is vanity. <br /> <br />Man lieth down, no more to wake, <br />Till yonder arching sphere <br />Shall with a roll of thunder break, <br />And nature disappear. <br /> <br />Oh! hide me till Thy wrath be past, <br />Thou, who canst slay or save! <br />Hide me where hope may anchor fast, <br />In my Redeemer's grave!<br /><br />James Montgomery<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/what-is-prayer/
