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There is a story about a
young shepherd boy
who was tending his sheep one sunny Sunday morning when he heard the
bells of the local church ringing. He paused, watching people
dressed in their Sunday finery walking along the road by the pasture
where he was feeding his sheep. He thought to himself, "I want to
pray. I would like to communicate with God! But, what can I say to
Him? I have never been to church more than a time or two and the few books
someone gave my parents don't teach me how to pray." On bended knee, he began to recite the alphabet. Repeating this prayer over and over with reverence. A priest who was passing by on his daily walk before mass heard the boy's high pitched, childish voice and peeked through the bushes by the side of the road. He saw the young boy kneeling with folded hands, eyes closed, repeating the alphabet. He interrupted the boy saying, "What are you doing, my little one?" The boy replied, "I was praying, sir." The priest seemed surprised and said, "But why are you reciting the alphabet?" The boy explained, "I don't know any prayers, sir. And I haven't gone to church for a long, long time. But I want God to take care of me and my family even though they do not go to church anymore, and I want Him to help me care for my sheep. And so I thought, if I said all I knew, He could put the letters together into words, and He would know all that I want to say!"
The priest smiled encouragingly and said,
"Bless your heart, my child, God will know. Yes, He will!" And the priest went on
to Church knowing full well that he had just heard the finest homily
and it would top any he
could possibly offer that day. First, we must find a quiet place without distractions. Then picture the Lord, with a patient smile, sitting across from you. Through the Holy Spirit, you will know He is waiting with kindness and complete attention because He wants to hear every word you say. Then, because you are one of His, tell Him whatever is on your heart and mind. He’ll listen to you with great understanding and compassion. You don't need big, educated words or eloquence of speech, nor programmed prayers. He already knows your needs, your worries, and your desires, and He wants us to bring it all to Him through honest unadorned prayer because we are then showing that we love Him, depend on and want to obey Him. Come humbly to Him, always ending with what Jesus Christ says in John 14:13-17: "Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son". And 1 Timothy 2:5 tells us in no uncertain terms: 'For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus." Surrender all things to God through His Son and God will uphold and sustain all who come in faith. One often-neglected aspect of prayer is giving thanks for what He has already given to us. So often, we want His powers to provide the things we want, and if this is not forthcoming, we feel adrift and uncared for. But we must reflect on giving God something vital and that is ourselves. Thank Him for life, our sustenance, our safe havens, our health, and all the blessings we take for granted. Often we neglect Him until we need something that no man can give, and it is then that we go to Him as a final resort. We are all the children of God and He wants, no, He longs for us to talk with Him through prayer. It does not matter that it is a simple prayer. In the quiet of prayer, we can lay all our burdens, worries and concerns before Him, knowing that He is with us and hears us. In turn, we will receive assurance, guidance, peace, strength, power, and revelation, because we have put all things in His care, confident He will provide for us. He will give us the things He wants to give if they are right for us. Philippians 4:6-7 states, "In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all human understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus." The young boy in this story prayed to the Lord the only way he knew and it was sufficient, for the Lord understood what was in his heart. God listens to us with divine Knowledge and understanding, and if need be, gives forgiveness and clemency to all who come before Him with a simple, heartfelt prayer. As we pray with adoration, recognizing the supreme authority of our Father, we can rest in complete assurance that we are His highest priority.
A Final Prayer from Pope John Paul II
"Be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong."
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