Lord, Fire!

One more piece from Madonna House's Restoration newspaper on prayer comes to my heart to share with you:

There is another story about St. Cuthbert, an English saint from the holy isle of Lindisfarne.

One day he looked down the coast and saw great flames where a castle was located. He turned towards the blaze, held out his hands and cried: “Lord, fire!” The fire ceased immediately.

What a simple prayer! All he needed to do for the Lord to answer his prayer was to speak of it in one word. So when we do not know how to pray, we can remember this story and know that it is not how many words we use or how eloquently we beseech Him. Even one word can gain His answer swiftly.

When we lift up those we love, we need not know precisely what to ask for.  We need not pour out many words.  It is enough to call upon our Lord and speak to him the names of those we love.

Our Lord loves the simplicity of our prayer.  If we know not what to pray, we need only speak to Him in that simple trust of a child, calling out to Him with a name or word.  If it is a prayer from our hearts and is in accord with His will, then He will surely grant whatever we ask—even if we know not fully what that is.