Scripture Verse

Pray continually. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Introduction

Words: Mary A. Kid­der, in Good News, or Songs and Tunes for Sun­day Schools, Chris­tian As­so­cia­tions, and Spe­cial Meet­ings, by Rig­don M. Mc­Intosh (Bos­ton, Mas­sa­chu­setts: Ol­iv­er Dit­son, 1876).

Music: Will­iam O. Per­kins (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Kid­der or Per­kins (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Ere you left your room this morn­ing,
Did you think to pray?
In the name of Christ our Sav­ior,
Did you sue for lov­ing fa­vor,
As a shield to­day?

Refrain

O how pray­ing rests the wea­ry!
Prayer will change the night to day;
So when life seems dark and drea­ry,
Don’t for­get to pray.

When you met with great temp­ta­tion,
Did you think to pray?
By His dy­ing love and mer­it,
Did you claim the Ho­ly Spir­it
As your guide and stay?

Refrain

When your heart was filled with an­ger,
Did you think to pray?
Did you plead for grace, my bro­ther,
That you might for­give ano­ther
Who had crossed your way?

Refrain

When sore tri­als came up­on you,
Did you think to pray?
When your soul was bowed in sor­row,
Balm of Gi­le­ad did you bor­row
At the gates of day?

Refrain