How to Pray Aright
John Burton
I often say my prayers—but do I ever pray?
Do the feelings of my heart go with the words I say?
It is useless to implore unless I feel my need,
Unless it is from a sense of want that all my prayers proceed.
I might as well bow 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 ever those regard whose prayers are insincere.
Lord! Teach me what I want, and teach me how to pray,
Nor let me ever implore thy grace not feeling what I say.
