By Steven Norris
In our culture and language, there are typical patterns of speech that help us navigate the flow of a conversation. When you see someone you know, you typically say, “Hi!” When you part ways from someone, you say, “Bye!”
When you begin a letter, you start, “Dear. . .” When you close a letter: “Sincerely…”
When you begin a fairy tale: “Once Upon a time . . .” And you know it’s over when you read, “And they lived happily ever after, The End.”
This is how we typically view the “Amen” in our prayers. It is like we’re saying, “God, I’m finished” or “Alright everyone, you can open your eyes now.” If you are in a prayer meeting, it is a way of saying, “Next…”
Sometimes we use an Amen to encourage the preacher, letting him or her know, “I’m with you on that one.” We’re saying, “I agree! That’s a good word!” Every once in a while, the preacher might need to help you out a little, so he or she says, “Can I get an amen on that?”
As I child, I grew up watching Star Trek: The Next Generation. In that show, the captain of the ship (Jean-Luc Picard) has a famous saying. When he uttered “Make it so,” everyone knew that the time for discussion was over. It was now time for action.
As we have spent time in the Lord’s Prayer over the last few weeks, I hope that you have deepened your understanding of what Jesus meant when he taught us this prayer. To reach the “Amen” is to challenge us to stop praying with our head, heart, or spirit, and to start praying with our feet. We are saying, in essence, “Make this prayer a reality in my life.” To honestly say “Amen” is to say, “God, now that I’ve learned to pray this prayer help to begin to live this prayer.”
If prayer doesn’t change the way you live, why bother? If prayer doesn’t radically alter and reorient your life, what’s the point? If prayer doesn’t challenge you to become more like Jesus, why waste your breath? If prayer doesn’t help the kingdom of God to break out in your life you’ve missed the point!
Can I get an “Amen?”
There’s one final thing, however. In the book of Revelation, we read this: “to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation…” (Revelation 3:14). To pray “Amen” is to literally pray in the name of Jesus, the one who is God’s “yes,” the fulfillment of all God’s promises to humanity and all creation.
Yes! You are God’s child. Yes! You are loved with an everlasting love. Yes! You are God’s masterpiece. Yes! God has a plan to use you. Yes! You are forgiven. Yes! God desires to bless you. Yes! You have value. Yes! You are God’s partner in the gospel. Yes! Yes! Yes!
Let it be, Lord. Let it be. Amen.