Over the last year, US President Barack Obama has endured unfair speculation about the reality of his professed Christian faith, but at a recent national prayer breakfast Obama took the opportunity to share more deeply about the role faith plays in his life.
Obama said that he not only prays for peace in the Middle East, but also for assistance for his 12-year-old daughter, Malia.
"Lord, give me patience as I watch Malia go to her first dance, where there will be boys. Lord, let her skirt get longer as she travels to that place," Obama recounted to laughter.
Obama went onto explain the roots of his faith: "I came to know Jesus Christ for myself and embrace him as my Lord and Saviour."
Obama described his childhood as "not religious", his father as a non-believer and his mother "grew up with a certain scepticism … she only took me to church at Easter and Christmas – sometimes".
It was only when Obama became involved in community efforts, "working with pastors and laypeople, trying to heal the wounds of hurting neighbourhoods", that he first began to identify himself as a Christian.
Obama also shared something of the frustration he feels when people doubt the integrity of his professed faith - a study done last year found that 18% of Americans claimed Obama was a (covert) Muslim – and that the number had increased since he became president. Only 34% of those surveyed said he was a Christian.
"My Christian faith then has been a sustaining force for me over these last few years, all the more so when Michelle and I hear our faith questioned from time to time," Obama emphasised.
"We are reminded that ultimately what matters is not what other people say about us, but whether we're being true to our conscience and true to our God."