“Lord, break me… break my soul so that none of my self remains… fill me only with yourself, my Father… fill me with your Spirit… let my life be nothing but a reflection of your being and your character and your goodness… purify me, O God… circumcise my heart… cleanse me from all motive… search me with the finger of your cleansing fire… I want nothing, Father, except to be more and more transformed into the image of your Son… make me, O Lord, like Jesus… let me become the son you desire me to be… and show me, Father—please show me… what you want me to do… open my eyes to your purpose, your will… let me do nothing, say nothing, think nothing that is contrary to your purpose… help me, Lord… instruct me… guide my steps in your way… fill me with your wisdom and your life and your very being….”

Again his words gave way to the silent pleadings of the Spirit inside him. When he rose from his knees ten minutes later, his eyes shone with the cleansing rains of self-abandonment, and his cheeks were stained with its tears.

He continued his walk, still praying and thinking quietly—though the storm in his heart had been stilled—and asking his Father for direction.

A passage of Scripture had been on his mind since the moment of his awakening. He had read it several times. Still his finger marked the page as he held the Bible at his side. Once again he opened it and read the words.

These are the words of the holy one, the true one, who holds the key of David; when he opens none may shut, when he shuts none may open… and look, I have set before you an open door, which no one can shut.

“The key… what key, Lord? What open door?”

Your strength, I know, is small, yet you have observed my commands and have not disowned my name.

He thought of his friend Dietrich, and then of the many German church leaders who had given in to the Nazi demands, signed oaths of allegiance to Hitler, and thus disowned the name of their true Savior. “But Lord,” he prayed, “are you speaking to me, too?”

He continued to read.

So this is what I will do: I will make those of Satan’s synagogue, who claim to be Jews but are lying frauds, come and fall down at your feet.

“Who do you mean, Lord… who are these false Jews… what is Satan’s synagogue?”

And they shall know that you are my beloved people.

“Beloved people… they shall know that you are my beloved people,” repeated Heinrich to himself. “What people, Lord… who are these beloved people?”