But if I lowly fall, And thus in faith I call: "Through Christ, O Lord, I pray thee give to me Not what I would, but what seems best to thee Of life, of health, of service, and of strength, Until to thy full joy I come at length"-- My prayer shall then avail; The blessing shall not fail. --Charles F. Richardson. Teach me, dear Lord, what thou wouldst have me know; Guide me, dear Lord, where thou wouldst have me go; Help me, dear Lord, the precious seed to sow; Bless thou the seed that it may surely grow. THE TIME FOR PRAYER When is the time for prayer? With the first beams that light the morning sky, Ere for the toils of day thou dost prepare, Lift up thy thoughts on high; Commend thy loved ones to his watchful care: Morn is the time for prayer! And in the noontide hour, If worn by toil or by sad care oppressed, Then unto God thy spirit's sorrows pour, And he will give thee rest: Thy voice shall reach him through the fields of air: Noon is the time for prayer! When the bright sun hath set, Whilst yet eve's glowing colors deck the skies, When with the loved, at home, again thou'st met, Then let thy prayers arise For those who in thy joys and sorrows share: Eve is the time for prayer! And when the stars come forth-- When to the trusting heart sweet hopes are given And the deep stillness of the hour gives birth To pure bright dreams of heaven-- Kneel to thy God; ask strength life's ills to bear: Night is the time for prayer. When is the time for prayer? In every hour, while life is spared to thee-- In crowds or solitude--in joy or care-- Thy thoughts should heavenward flee. At home--at morn and eve--with loved ones there, Bend thou the knee in prayer! NOT A SOUND INVADES THE STILLNESS Not a sound invades the stillness, Not a form invades the scene, Save the voice of my Beloved, And the person of my King. And within those heavenly places, Calmly hushed in sweet repose, There I drink, with joy absorbing, All the love thou wouldst disclose. Wrapt in deep adoring silence, Jesus, Lord, I dare not move, Lest I lose the smallest saying Meant to catch the ear of love. Rest, then, O my soul, contented: Thou hast reached thy happy place In the bosom of thy Saviour, Gazing up in his dear face. FORMAL PRAYER I often say my prayers, But do I ever pray; And do the wishes of my heart Go with the words I say? I may as well kneel down And worship gods of stone, As offer to the living God A prayer of words alone. For words without the heart The Lord will never hear: Nor will he to those lips attend Whose prayers are not sincere. --John Burton. BLESSINGS OF PRAYER