Faith After Saying 'Amen'Sýnishorn

Faith After Saying "Amen"

This Pharisee repeated the same phrase over and over; he truly needed help.

Everyone knew it was a prayer, even though it seemed like he only knew how to say that one phrase. It was a prayer like the ones we often say, those prayers where we're distressed or very worried, and we repeat the phrase over and over.

"And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words." (Matthew 6:7)

It was an exhortation to the Pharisees and to many of us as well. It's a prayer that says: "I'm very worried, do you hear me? I repeat it many times because I don't know if you hear me or if you're far away."

Jesus knows why we repeat ourselves, and that's why He says: "I hear your prayer, I listen to your sincere prayer; the first time you said it, I had already heard you, and I already know what you need before you even said it."

Jesus used the example of the Pharisees because they wanted their prayer to be a model for everyone, but that "model prayer" showed distrust and a distant God.

Jesus is near, and He hears you; of course, He knows what you're saying and wants to answer you.

As I was writing this, the case of the persistent widow came to mind, and I thought: What's the difference between repeating the prayer over and over and her persistence? Repeating is not the same as insisting.

Repeating is "saying the same thing over and over," and in a prayer, that repetition implies distrust. Insisting is "persisting or remaining firm in something," and in the case of prayer, it involves believing that something will happen with faith. I insist because I know you hear me, but I show concern about the matter.

God doesn't negate the fact that you feel worried or distressed; God knows these feelings very well and that's why He doesn't nullify them.

That's why He understands that you insist and that you bring the same prayer again and again, but He wants you to pray knowing that He does hear you. So don't be afraid to end your prayer with an "amen" because when you say amen, God hears you, and He takes your case into account.

God already hears you, and you can be sure that there is a "yes" and "amen" for each of the promises that are for you.