Concluding our Prayers
“For Thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.”
Recently, I was in a large home improvement store and needed assistance loading a wheelbarrow I had just purchased. I walked down aisle after aisle searching for a store employee to help me. Along the way, I made several requests and, each time, was reassured someone was on the way to assist me. So, I went to the front of the store and I waited...and I waited, but no one came. Finally, I decided to ask the store manager. I knew he had the power and authority to help me. To my delight, the store manager saw to it my new wheelbarrow was quickly loaded into the back of my car.
When we pray to God, we can do so with confidence because God is a king who has power and authority to grant our requests. This is why Jesus concludes the Lord’s Prayer with the following affirmation, “For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.” The potency of our prayers is not based on the eloquence of our words, but in God’s character. He is a benevolent King (“Our Father”) who rules with power and glory. This means our prayers are not in vain. He is able to help us.
In light of this, we should not be afraid to share our deep-rooted desires with God. He wants us to call out to Him. He wants to listen to our requests. There is a tendency, however, to bypass God by searching endlessly for things we think will be able to help us, but the conclusion of the Lord’s Prayer reminds us where the true seat of authority resides. God is the king and the source power, “For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.”
