Our village in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo lies in a mountainous region of equatorial tropical forest.

 

There is a story about a seven-year-old boy who was sent by his parents to the nearest village to look for firewood.

 

On his way, he met a lion. Frightened, he stopped and couldn’t move. However, the young boy remembered the prayer he had been taught by his parents; he closed his eyes and prayed like this, ‘O Lord, bless this food before we eat it. In Jesus name, Amen.’

 

Miraculously, when he opened his eyes, he could not see the lion, and he continued on his way.

 

His short prayer, uttered out of context, was nonetheless answered. His prayer was no better than anyone else’s. For each of us the Holy Spirit intercedes and shapes our prayers.

 

Prayer does not depend on particular words or repetitive sentences. Prayer is guided by the Holy Spirit. How many times have we found ourselves praying for things other than the ones we intended?

 

That is the Spirit working through our prayers. None of us knows how to pray without the help of the Holy Spirit.

 

Prayer: Dear Lord, let your Holy Spirit lead our prayers, and teach us to pray every day. Amen