I Didn't Pray the Sinner’s Prayer

“Will you go and pray with my brother?” Her voice was anxious. 

“Of course, I will,” I replied. “I’m always happy to pray with people. What's going on?”

“Well, I'm afraid he will die and go to hell. He's not doing well, and I know he's never prayed the sinner’s prayer. I need someone to ensure he is saved. I want him to go to heaven.”

“I'll happily pray with him,” I said, and I walked the familiar path between my office and the core tower of the hospital. My heart was heavy. Something about this request made me sad. I know it was meant to be loving, but it feels so distant from the fullness of love I sense God has for me and everyone. 

Is God so willing and eager to submit me to eternal torment if I haven't prayed the proper prayer in the right way at the right time?

Is God so full of wrath and requirement and needing blood as payment for some cosmic, eternal debt that I owe?

Is God so vengeful, sadistic, and cruel? 

I sure hope not. I've banked my faith and existence on a different view of God.

What if how God sees and relates to me is more like the way the writer of Ephesians describes? IE: 

• I am blessed with every spiritual blessing.

• I am chosen in Christ. 

• From before the foundation of the world, I am holy and blameless before God in love. 

• I am destined for adoption as one of God’s children. 

• It gives God pleasure to offer all these things and make them so.  (Ephesians 1:3-5)

His sister asked me to pray with him, and I did. But I did so in a way that was likely different than how she expected. I prayed that he would become aware of his salvation… of what has always been true. I prayed that he would be mindful of God’s love surrounding him in his time of need. I prayed that he would know that God loves him… that God has always loved him in a way that is beyond measure or requirement. I prayed that he would have confidence in and reassurance of his salvation. I prayed that he would see himself as God has always seen him. 

I didn't pray the “sinner’s prayer.” I prayed for and with a beloved child of God.