The Ultimate Payoff

Like people, prayer comes in all shapes and sizes. At one end of the spectrum, we delight in the innocence of the little girl overheard adding a postscript to her bedtime prayer. “Dear God,” she said, “Thank you for the baby brother. But what I really wanted was a puppy.”

On the other end of the spectrum, a middle-aged man offers this very relatable morning prayer. “Dear God,” he petitions, “Today, I’ve done all right. I haven’t lied. I haven’t lost my temper. I haven’t been greedy or nasty or selfish. As far as I can see, I haven’t done anything wrong. And I hope you’re pleased. But, in a few minutes, I’ll be getting out of bed — and from then on, I’ll be needing a lot of help!”

Faith in God, some people believe, is for children only — a phase of life you pass through and grow out of as you become more intellectually mature. The Bible, on the other hand, gives…