“LORD, TEACH US HOW TO PRAY.”
By E. P. D.
Dear Saviour, when ought I to pray?
At morn, or at the close of day;
In youth, or when my hair is gray?
Tell me, dear Lord, when should I pray? “Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thess. 5: 17, 18. Dear Saviour, where ought I to be
When offering up my prayer to thee?
Are homes of wealth the favored place
Where I should go to seek thy face?
Or should I go to church to pray
Upon each weekly Sabbath day? “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.” Matt. 6: 6. Dear Saviour, tell me how to pray.
Will words suffice to turn away
The wrath of thy dread Judgment day?
Should I stand up to offer prayer,
With affected grace and saintly air?
Should I repeat, in solemn tone,
And wring my hands, and sigh, and moan,
And say, O Lord, again and again,
And often say, Amen, amen?
Tell me, dear Lord, is this the way
In which thou’st taught thy saints to pray? “And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues, and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily, I say unto you, They have their reward. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do; for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.” Matt. 6: 5-7. Oh! let the clouds of darkness part.
Let light divine illume my heart.
While on thy breast my head I lay,
Oh! teach me, Lord, the better way;
Dear Saviour, teach me how to pray. “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.” Matt. 6: 9-14.