Prayer Is the Soulâs Sincere Desire (UMH 492)
Prayer is the soulâs sincere desire,
Unuttered or expressed;
The motion of a hidden fire
at 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 at reach
The Majesty on high.
Prayer is the contrite sinnerâs voice,
Returning from his ways,
While angels in their songs rejoice
And cry, âBehold, he prays!â
Prayer is the Christianâs vital breath,
The Christianâs native air,
His watchword at the gates of death;
He enters Heavân with prayer.
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) was an avid worker for missions and an active member of the Bible Society in his time. He was a hymn writer who was simple in his writing style, both in vocabulary and structure. He began writing poetry at the age of 10. Like John Wesley, Montgomery was inspired by the hymns of the Moravians.
The Rev E. Bickersteth, an Evangelical priest, requested Montgomery to write for his Treatise on Prayer. The hymn âPrayer is the Soulâs Sincere Desireâ (UMH 492) was written in 1818 in response to a request.
In 1819 the Treatise on Prayer was published with âPrayer is the Soulâs Sincere Desireâ as selection 278 under âHymns Chiefly Intended for Private Useâ, with the scripture text Ephesians 6:18 âPray without ceasing.â
In his text, Montgomery describes prayer in beautiful and powerful imagery: prayer is the burden of a sigh, an infant speech, Christianâs vital breath, the constant sinnerâs voice. It reflects the complex forms in which prayers are framed by various states of the human soul and mind.
The hymn reminds us of our relationship with God â the Life, the Truth and the Way to whom our prayers are addressed and from whom we ask âLord, teach us how to pray.â
This hymn text is set to many tunes. One contemporary tune I found for solo or choir is composed by Sally DeFord. You can fi nd her music in her website:http://www.defordmusic.com/prayeristhesoulssinceredesire.htm
Judith Mosomos is a Lecturer in Church Music at the Methodist School of Music.