Obama prays for charity, humility, closeness to God, longer skirts for Malia

Washington, Feb 4 (ANI): US President Barack Obama has revealed that he has three main points when he says his prayers: charity, humility, and closeness to God.

Obama, 49, said he "petitions God for a whole range of things", but the three are the focus of his prayer.

"The first category of prayer comes out of the urgency of the Old Testament prophets and the Gospel itself. I pray for my ability to help those who are struggling," the Christian Science Monitor quoted him as saying.

The second is a prayer for humility.

"God answered this prayer for me early on by having me marry Michelle, because whether it's reminding me of a chore undone or questioning the wisdom of watching my third football game in a row on Sunday, she keeps me humble," he said.

About the third, the president said, "one that binds all prayers together, is that I might walk closer with God and make that walk my first and most important task".

"When I wake in the morning, I wait on the Lord, and I ask Him to give me the strength to do right by our country and its people," he explained his last petition.

"And when I go to bed at night, I wait on the Lord, and I ask Him to forgive me my sins and look after my family and the American people and make me an instrument of His will," he stated.

He also jokingly added that his 12-year-old daughter Malia is one of the subjects for prayer.

"Lord, give me patience as I watch Malia go to her first dance.Where there will be boys. Lord, have that skirt get longer as she travels - to that dance," he said to widespread audience laughter. (ANI)