497 O Gracious Father of Mankind

[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.