Did you ever wonder why we say, “Amen”, at the end of our prayers?

What does it mean?

Is there a purpose or is it a polite way to say, “the end”?

The word amen comes from the Hebrew word amēn, pronounced am-ane’, which means, so be it, may it be fulfilled.

When we say amen at the end of our prayers we are saying to God we hope what we are asking for is how things will turn out.

It was a custom in the Jewish synagogues that once someone finished giving a prayer, that the congregation would together say amen. This would make what was prayed their own. It would give them ownership and involvement in the prayer.

When Christianity began, they carried this tradition with them into the Christian church. (blb.org)

When we say amen at the end of a prayer in our church we are saying to God we agree and want the same thing the person praying said in the prayer.

Ending our personal, private prayer with amen is saying to God we are praying with the hope He will make these things happen.

Realizing what amen means helps us realize how serious praying really is.

When we pray we are going to the Creator of the Universe and talking to Him. We are asking Him to help us with something.

Knowing this makes me stop and look at what I’m asking for and how I go about asking for it.

Am I being humble?

Am I being honest – both with God and with myself?

Am I seeking what’s best for God’s kingdom? Or, only what I think is best for me?

That amen at the end reminds us we need to make sure what we are asking of Him is for the right reasons and that we are truly seeking interaction with God, not just a free handout or favor.

What a privilege it is for us to ask God for something and then end the conversation by saying, ” i hope this request is fulfilled,”.

As we come to God in prayer, let us always make sure our hearts and motives are right and that we humbly ask for things that honor God and help His kingdom grow.

That way we can easily say, Amen!