Hymn
Prayer Is the Soul's Sincere Desire
Prayer is the soul's sincere desire,
Uttered or unexpressed,
The motion of a hidden fire
hat 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 gate 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 say, Behold, he prays.
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. Amen.
Prayer Is the Soul's Sincere Desire — Text from American Lutheran Hymnal, 1930. Public domain. https://yeshuanow.com/hymns/prayer-is-the-souls-sincere-desire
Chord chart coming soon
Want to play this one? Leave your email and we'll let you know when the chords are ready.
Questions about this hymn
Who wrote Prayer Is the Soul's Sincere Desire?
The words of Prayer Is the Soul's Sincere Desire were written by James Montgomery; the version here was published in 1930. The library holds 43 more hymns by James Montgomery, including To Thy Temple I Repair and Holy, Holy, Holy Lord.
Is Prayer Is the Soul's Sincere Desire public domain?
Yes. The words here are taken from American Lutheran Hymnal, published in 1930. Works published before 1931 are out of copyright in the United States, so you can print, project, perform and record this hymn freely. How we source and check every hymn.
What is the metre of Prayer Is the Soul's Sincere Desire?
Prayer Is the Soul's Sincere Desire is in Common Metre (8.6.8.6). Hymns in the same metre can usually be sung to the same tunes — for example, To Us a Child of Hope is Born, For Victorious Faith and Praise.