by Heidi Baumgartner, communication director
From an early age, we've been trained to end our prayers by say, "In Jesus' name, Amen."
We've said Amen thousands of times in our prayer life and in response to messages we hear at church.
The Hebrew word for truth, Bible scholars share, is "amen" and implies that God is dependable, faithful and truthful. It's an acknowledgement that God keeps His promises! It's a sign that we've experienced how God is reliable and that we can trust Him to answer prayers at the right time in the right way.
Our prayer life leads into our call to action, as shared in Isaiah 1:16-19:
Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean;
Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes.
Cease to do evil,
17
Learn to do good;
Seek justice,
Rebuke the oppressor;
Defend the fatherless,
Plead for the widow.
18
“Come now, and let us reason together,”
Says the Lord,
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
They shall be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They shall be as wool.
19
If you are willing and obedient,
You shall eat the good of the land;
This call-to-action flows into the Great Commission in Matthew 28:
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.'
"Teaching them to observe all things" is all about discipleship!
The daily walk with Jesus involves us learning to do good, seek justice, rebuke the oppressor, defend the fatherless, please the widow, and reasoning together in spiritual growth.
Our collective prayer during The Altar Project is that you'll continue in faithful family and individual worship times. We're praying to this trusting God because we know He is faithful, dependable and trust worthy. We've seen Him work in and through the lives of His disciples before and we know He will continue to work through His sons and daughters.
And so we say as Revelation 22 ends, "Amen and Amen. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Even so, come, Lord Jesus," and take us home to our eternal family worship time!
A "Peace, Be Still" Prayer of Blessing
In this quiet moment, Lord, take control.
Move me, fill me, touch me mind, body and soul.
Quench my burning thirst with the wonders of eternal life;
Set me free from anger, bitterness and strife.
This poem I write is my prayer, O Lord—come into my heart today;
Mold me, shape me, dwell in me—come in, O Lord, to stay.
Wash me with thy cleansing blood,
Anoint me from on high.
Teach me daily to surrender to Thee--
To daily, hourly, die.
