Today’s hymn is written by Albert Simpson Reitz in 1925. Reitz worked for the Y.M.C.A. in Topeka, Kansas, from 1903 to 1908, and traveled as a musician with evangelist Henry Ostrom for seven years.  He attended the Moody Bible Institute at Chicago in 1917-1918 and then married Elsie May Oehmcke in 1918. After becoming a Baptist minister, Reitz was encouraged to write hymns and produced over 100 gospel songs in his life­time. This hymn was a result of a soul-stirring Day of Prayer conducted by the Evangelical Prayer Union at Reitz’s Rosehill church and first appeared that year in Gospel Solos and Duets No. 2, compiled by Herbert G. Tovey¹. Enjoy!

Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray;
This is my heart-cry day unto day;
I long to know Thy will and Thy way;
Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray.

Refrain
Living in Thee, Lord, and Thou in me;
Constant abiding, this is my plea;
Grant me Thy power, boundless and free:
Power with men and power with Thee.

Power in prayer, Lord, power in prayer,
Here ‘mid earth’s sin and sorrow and care;
Men lost and dying, souls in despair;
O give me power, power in prayer!

Refrain

My weakened will, Lord, Thou canst renew;
My sinful nature Thou canst subdue;
Fill me just now with power anew,
Power to pray and power to do!

Refrain

Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray;
Thou art my Pattern, day unto day;
Thou art my Surety, now and for aye;
Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray.

¹https://hymnstudiesblog.wordpress.com/2023/05/27/teach-me-to-pray/