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497- O Gracious Father of Mankind

Christian Life: Meditation and Prayer

1

  • O gracious Father of mankind,
  • Our spirits' unseen friend;
  • High heaven's Lord, our hearts' dear guest,
  • To Thee our prayers ascend.
  • Thou dost not wait till human speech
  • Thy gifts divine implore;
  • Our dreams, our aims, our work, our lives
  • Are prayers Thou lovest more.

2

  • Thou hearest these, the good and ill,
  • Deep buried in each breast;
  • The secret thought, the hidden plan,
  • Wrought out our unexpressed.
  • O cleanse our prayers from human dross,
  • Attune our lives to Thee,
  • Until we labor for those gifts
  • We ask on bended knee.

3

  • Our best is but Thyself in us,
  • Our highest thought Thy will;
  • To hear Thy voice we need but love,
  • And listen, and be still.
  • We would not bend Thy will to ours,
  • But blend our wills to Thine;
  • Not beat with cries on heaven's doors,
  • But live Thy life divine.

4

  • Thou seekest us in love and truth
  • More than our minds seek Thee;
  • Through open gates Thy power flows in
  • Like flood tides from the sea.
  • No more we seek Thee from afar,
  • Nor ask Thee for a sign,
  • Content to pray in life and love
  • And toil, till all are Thine.