“For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words.” Romans 8:26b
James Montgomery was born in 1771 in Scotland, and he has become the third most prolific hymn-writer from Great Britain, ranking behind only Isaac Watts and Charles Wesley. He is credited with over 400 hymns, of which at least 100 are still routinely sung today. It was during his years in a boy’s boarding school, while his parents were missionaries in the West Indies, that he came to know the love of Jesus and the call upon his life to live for Him!
Prayer is the Soul’s Sincere Desire has been described as the greatest of all hymns on the difficult subject of prayer. Montgomery penned the words to this well-known hymn in 1818. In the midst of overwhelming trials and tears, there may be times when we can’t articulate the grief and the pain that seem to have taken up residence in our own hearts. But even then we can rest assured that the Lord knows the sincere desire of our souls, and His own Spirit intercedes for us with groans too deep for words! Hallelujah! What a Saviour!
Prayer is the Soul’s Sincere Desire
1 Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire, uttered or unexpressed;
the motion of a hidden fire
that trembles in the breast.
2 Prayer is the burden of a sigh, The falling of a tear,
The upward glancing of an eye When none but God is near.
3 Prayer is the Christian’s vital breath, the Christian’s native air,
his watchword at the gates of death: he enters heaven with prayer.
4 Prayer is the contrite sinner’s voice, returning from his ways;
while angels in their songs rejoice, and cry, ‘Behold, he prays!
5 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!