A weekly time of early morning prayer at our local parish has been one of many blessings during this month of leave.\u00a0 Prayer has become a significant part of my leave. I had not planned for this but I rejoice in the Lord’s unexpected and precious gift.<\/p>\n
One aspect of this desire for prayer has been\u00a0my reflection and reading in preparation for an upcoming Anglican Spirituality\u00a0seminar in Burnie. One of the seminar resources is the ‘The Book of Common Praise’<\/a><\/em> (I could not find an online version) which in earlier times was bound in the one volume with ‘The Book of Common Prayer’<\/a><\/em>. The words of these hymns have helped me to pray and I commend them to you.<\/p>\n One such hymn is James Montgomery’s,<\/a> ‘Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire’<\/a>. May the Holy Spirit nurture your life through these beautiful words:<\/p>\n Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire Prayer is the burden of a sigh Prayer is the simplest form of speech Prayer is the Christian’s vital breath Prayer is the contrite sinner’s voice Nor prayer is made on earth alone O thou by whom we come to God A weekly time of early morning prayer at our local parish has been one of many blessings during this month of leave.\u00a0 Prayer has become a significant part of my leave. I had not planned for this but I rejoice … Continue reading
\nUttered or unexpressed
\nThe motion of a hidden fire
\nThat trembles in the breast<\/p>\n
\nThe falling of a tear
\nThe upward glancing of an eye
\nWhen none but God is near<\/p>\n
\nThat infant lips can try
\nPrayer, the sublimest strains that reach
\nThe Majesty on high<\/p>\n
\nThe Christian’s native air
\nHis watchword at the gates of death
\nHe enters heav’n with prayer<\/p>\n
\nReturning from his ways
\nWhile angels in their songs rejoice
\nAnd cry, “Behold! He prays!”<\/p>\n
\nThe Holy Spirit pleads
\nAnd Jesus at the Father’s throne
\nFor sinners intercedes<\/p>\n
\nThe Life, the Truth, the Way
\nThe path of prayer thyself hast trod
\nLord, teach us how to pray. Amen!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"