James Montgomery, 1771\u20141854<\/p>\n
Men ought always to pray, and not to faint.
\n(Luke 18:1 KJV)<\/p><\/blockquote>\nLiving a life without prayer is like building a house without nails.
\n\u2013Unknown<\/p>\nPrayer is releasing the energies of God. For prayer is asking God to do what we cannot do ourselves.
\n\u2013Selected<\/p>\nExcept for Charles Wesley or Isaac Watts, no writer has made a greater contribution to English hymnody than the author of this text, James Montgomery. He wrote more than 400 hymns, many of which are still in popular use: \u201cStand Up and Bless the Lord,\u201d \u201cAngel From the Realms of Glory,\u201d \u201cIn the Hour of Trial,\u201d and \u201cAccording to Thy Gracious Word.\u201d<\/p>\n
Though trained for the ministry, Montgomery spent his lifetime as a journalist and newspaper editor. He became widely known for his writings and poetry, yet when once asked, \u201cWhich of your poems will live?\u201d he replied, \u201cNone, sir, except a few of my hymns.\u201d His words were prophetic. It is by his hymns that Montgomery is remembered, rather than by his more classic poetry.<\/p>\n
Many have acclaimed this hymn as one of the finest definitions and descriptions of prayer to be found in short form. Such colorful metaphors as \u201chidden fire,\u201d \u201ca sign,\u201d \u201ca falling tear,\u201d \u201can upward glance,\u201d \u201cvital breath,\u201d and \u201cnative air\u201d describe in poetic language the mystic meaning of prayer\u2013understood by experience, yet often difficult to express in words. Perhaps those terms will lead you to a new appreciation for the \u201csoul\u2019s sincere desire.\u201d<\/p>\n
Prayer is the soul\u2019s sincere desire, uttered or unexpressed, the motion of a hidden fire that trembles in the breast.
\n Prayer is the burden of a sigh, the falling of a tear, the upward glancing of an eye when none but God is near.
\n Prayer is the simplest form of speech that infant lips can try; prayer, the sublimest strains that reach the Majesty on high.
\n Prayer is the Christian\u2019s vital breath, the Christian\u2019s native air; his watchword at the gates of death: He enters heav\u2019n with prayer.
\n 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!<\/p><\/blockquote>\nFor Today: Matthew 6:5-8; Luke 11:1\u20144; Colossians 4:2, Colossians 4:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:17<\/p>\n
Reflect on the importance of prayer in your daily life. Determine to make an even greater use of this spiritual power throughout the day. Use this musical reminder\u2013<\/p>\n
Osbeck, K. W. (1990). Amazing grace : 366 inspiring hymn stories for daily devotions (18). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publications.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
James Montgomery, 1771\u20141854 Men ought always to pray, and not to faint. (Luke 18:1 KJV) Living a life without prayer is like building a house without nails. \u2013Unknown Prayer is releasing the energies of God. For prayer is asking God to do what we cannot do ourselves. \u2013Selected Except for Charles Wesley or Isaac Watts,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"twitterCardType":"","cardImageID":0,"cardImage":"","cardTitle":"","cardDesc":"","cardImageAlt":"","cardPlayer":"","cardPlayerWidth":0,"cardPlayerHeight":0,"cardPlayerStream":"","cardPlayerCodec":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10337","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/purposedriven.ca\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10337","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/purposedriven.ca\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/purposedriven.ca\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/purposedriven.ca\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/purposedriven.ca\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10337"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/purposedriven.ca\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10337\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/purposedriven.ca\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10337"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/purposedriven.ca\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10337"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/purposedriven.ca\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10337"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}