From Chapter 14, “Knowing the Reality of Jesus”…

Was the heart attack and surgery an encounter with God? He said nothing in an audible voice, but I felt the answer was yes.

Nevertheless, I still wonder about my prayers. I wonder how much other people with greater devotion than mine do their prayers. I know I have repeatedly failed God in my life as a Christian going back to my youth. Surely I am not alone in this. How often do we trample on the grace given us? The author of Hebrews, in chapter 6, wrote of those who recrucified the Son of God and held Him up to contempt, to their own detriment. These “have fallen away,” a term I interpret as giving up on their faith. We have not given up! That is my prayer for all of us who know our failings and still enjoy the fruits of the Holy Spirit, including love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, the Big Nine of Galatians 5. Is God still merciful to us in our failings? Is He still merciful to me? “If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness,” wrote the Apostle John. I read of Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and the Publican. The publican–the loathsome taxpayer–beat on his chest and said, “Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Then God faithfully justified Him.

No, in spite of our paltry prayers, whether they be loquacious or brief, God hears us if we have not rejected His Son. We who place our faith in the risen Christ have this comfort. The world is divided into two types: those who receive Him and those who reject Him.

The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life. –John 3:36

This is a comfort to me as I cast about looking for my encounter with the Holy Father. My strivings are burdened by distractions. Do you not feel this also? Try praying in your prayer closet for just one minute. The silence for only a minute can be inundated with myriad distracted thoughts that invade your utterings heavenward. It seems easier to speak aloud to shut them out. Your focus is further derailed by praying in bed. One preacher said don’t feel guilty: what better way to fall asleep than in the arms of the Savior? But no, it takes deliberate effort to focus a prayer. I like to think the Lord receives them all: distracted prayers, sleepy ones, selfish ones, perfunctory ones, and devoted ones. But have you received a direct reply from the Lord?