I’m intrigued by the innumerable ways people come to saving faith in Christ. For some, conversion is dramatic and decisive. For others, it is gradual and progressive. Philosopher Johann Hamann (1730-1788) had elements of both gradual and sudden conversion to accompany his spiritual awakening. He dropped out of college in Russia without earning a degree. A friend helped him land a job with his father’s company, and he traveled to London to negotiate a trade deal with the Russian Ambassador. Johann was unsuited for the job, and the meeting became an embarrassing debacle. He remained in London, partied hard, and spent all his money. Mercifully, he found lodging with a Christian couple and, in despair, began to read the Bible. He wrote of the night, “The Spirit of God revealed the mystery of divine love and the benefit of faith in our gracious, only Savior.” This is how he described his spiritual birth in Thoughts on the Course of My Life, “My heart felt more at rest than ever before in my life. In the moments when depression wanted to arise, I was overwhelmed with a sense of comfort, the origin of which I cannot credit to myself… I was shocked by its overflow. It swallowed up all fear, all sadness, all mistrust.” This became his impetus to go to church, confess his sins to a priest, receive absolution, and join in worship to receive Holy Communion. Johann became a committed Christian and one of the ablest defenders of Christianity in his day. He gave up his commitment to the secular Enlightenment and challenged the infallibility of reason to resolve all questions with certainty. Knowledge is also dependent on faith.
His prayer printed here is long, but you should have seen it before I trimmed it. What an expansive prayer to draw us into God’s presence today:
Johann Hamann
Dear heavenly Father, may You be lauded and praised for all Your mercy and steadfast faithfulness by which You have protected me and kept me this day, this night. You have allowed me to live once again to wholly and joyfully see even this very present morning. Accept my gratitude from the hands of my High Priest and Intercessor, Jesus Christ. For his sake too, forgive me of all my sins. Permit my conscience to be cleansed from the dead works of darkness. I commend my spirit to You, into Your hands. You have redeemed me Lord, my true and faithful God. Complete the good works which You have begun in my soul for the sake of Your name. Give me your Holy Spirit who reigns over me, leads me on a level path, guides me into all truth and brings these things to my remembrance through which You set me free to be holy, pure and fruitful in the good works that are pleasing to You in Your dear Son, Jesus Christ. Look after me that I should not be fond of grieving or angering, my Lord, but rather form in me the effects of His grace that I may be made submissive and obedient…Prepare and equip me for those things to which You have called me. The Lord our God is kindly toward us. He strengthens the works of our hands, yes, You desire to strengthen the work of our hands to Your glory and for our salvation. May all my worries and petitions be entrusted to You and cast into your lap. You will make all things well; to this end You will never leave us or fail to meet us. Amen.
Johann Haman, Thoughts on the Course of My Life.
Rev. Dr. Peter James served 42 years as the senior of Vienna Presbyterian Church in Vienna, VA — 21 years in the 20th century and 21 years in the 21st century. He retired in 2021 and now serves as Pastor-in-Residence at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
Even as a pastor, prayer came slowly to Pete. Read Pete’s story.