Today I was asked by a close friend why I never say “amen” at the end of my prayers. It is true that I make my supplications to God and omit the final religious utterance, but allow me to explain. Much of the time I am prayer for and with other people. I’m not so arrogant as to assume that I am the only one who wants to speak to the Father on their behalf, so an omission of “amen” allows my prayer partners to continue from where I left off. But this is only part of the full answer.
When I pray, I envision opening a direct channel God… like a parting of the skies where God’s light shines down on me during our communication. If I am to be truthful, saying “amen” feels akin to me as hanging up the phone and ending the call. It actually saddens my heart to think I am hanging up on God and closing that heavenly light beaming down on me. So rather than “hanging up”, I just set the phone on my metaphorical pillow so that God can just listen to me breathe while I sleep. No hang ups. No good byes. Just an invite to remain and share an intimate encounter.
Often enough we see God as a sounding board for our complaints and dissatisfaction, or worse still as this omniscient Santa Clause who gives us the items on our wish list that we are diligent enough to pray for. Both pictures of God are valid, but so incomplete. God is a Father, a confidante… a lover. God has a passion for His people, so when I try to delve into the full experience of getting to know Him, I try to give Him my complete adoration. I crush on Him. He is the only person who knows what I have done, where I have been, and all the dark thoughts of my heart, yet loves me so unconditionally. You just can’t put a price tag on that.
