I love this poem by written by Isaac Watts the famous theologian, logician and hymn writer who was born in the late 1600’s. This hymn is one of 750 that he was inspired to write. It is a worship filled reminder of what prayer is and why we pray.
On Prayer by Isaac Watts
Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire
Uttered or unexpressed;
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 heaven with prayer.
Prayer is the contrite sinner’s voice
Returning from his ways;
While angels in their songs rejoice,
And say, “Behold, he prays!”
The saints in prayer, appear as one
In word, in deed, and mind,
When, with the Father and the Son,
Their fellowship they find.
Nor prayer is made by saints alone;
The Holy Spirit pleads;
And Jesus, on the 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.
