A Prideful Arrogant Little Prayer

Article by

Founder & Teacher, desiringGod.org

Andrew Klavan, 54, is a writer of thrillers. His latest novel, and his first aimed at "young adults" (grades 8-11) is The Last Thing I Remember.

He recently described his move from Judaism to Atheism to Christ. His interview with Marvin Olasky moved me, especially the mercy of God in his conversion. He recounts a “prideful arrogant little prayer.”

In keeping with the way my life has worked, I was reading a novel by the guy I think is probably the best English novelist in the last part of the 20th century, Patrick O'Brien, who writes sea adventures. I was reading in bed and got to the scene where one of the main characters, Maturin, said a little prayer before going to sleep. That's the one thing I'd never tried. So I said a very brief prayer of thanks and it went off in me like a bomb. There are really no words to describe it. I have always thought it was a tribute to the generosity of God that even such a prideful, arrogant little prayer in some sense would be answered.