The Simple, Earnest Prayer

In the twilight of the morning,
When the shadows steal away,
And we wake from balmy slumber
To behold another day,
Let us go alone in secret,
And unburden all our care
At the feet of our Redeemer,
In the simple, earnest prayer.

Refrain

Let Thy presence, blessèd Savior,
Our protection ever be;
Give us strength for every trial,
Keep, oh, keep us close to Thee.

In the noontide, calm and peaceful,
When we pause awhile to rest,
Ere the sun in all its glory
Is declining towards the west;
In the midst of our temptation,
When the cross is hard to bear,
If we cannot go in secret,
God will hear the silent prayer.

Refrain

When the toils of day are over,
And we seek the hallowed place
Where by faith we meet our Savior,
And adore Him for His grace;
How we feel our burden lighter,
Till we loose our weight of care,
While we lift our hearts together
In the simple, earnest prayer.

Refrain

Author: Fanny Crosby

Year: 1885

Fanny Crosby (Frances Jane Crosby) wrote hundreds of hymns in the late 19th century, many published in collections by William H. Doane and others. The style, phrasing, and themes (secret prayer, protection, closeness to the Savior) are characteristic of her work. The hymn appears in several hymnals from the 1880s onward under her name.