Columnist Cal Thomas sat down in the Oval Office to talk with outgoing President Bush, where they discussed everything from the situation in Gaza to the federal bailout to Social Security and Medicare to immigration to the future of the Republican Party to attacks on his character to his faith and prayer life:

THOMAS: You told your sister that your faith sustained you through your presidency: “I’ve been in the Bible every day since I’ve been the president.”

PRESIDENT BUSH: It’s true.

THOMAS: Now, many presidents have spoken of faith and reliance upon God. How did you process this? Your detractors say, oh, he’s got a direct hotline to God—really great, got us involved in Iraq and all these other things. So how do you process this and not fall into arrogance in the sense that political decisions are necessarily the specific dictates of God? How does that work?

PRESIDENT BUSH: I have explained when asked that prayer is very personal. And, you know, people try to characterize my religion the way it suits their view of their world. I have been sustained by prayer. I have been strengthened by prayer, and I am grateful for prayer. I tell people, some days are happy, some days not so happy, every day joyous. And that’s a true statement.

THOMAS: Well, let me see if I can go a little deeper in that, without revealing my own proclivities. Before a major decision, before launching the toppling of Saddam, do you say, “You know, God, if I’m not making the right decision, step in and check—stop me”? How does it practically work?

PRESIDENT BUSH: For me, prayer is wisdom and strength, protect my family; protect the troops. Look, you make the best decisions you can at the time and you listen to a lot of advisers who are here to provide you good, sound advice. I’m spiritual; I’m not mystical.

THOMAS: What does that mean?

PRESIDENT BUSH: It means that I don’t hear voices. I don’t hear voices. I know that I have to make tough calls based upon the circumstances at the time. And so that’s why I say, for me, prayer is a very personal, personal matter.

You can read Cal Thomas’ complete interview with President Bush here.