When I prayed for a topic this morning, the word Amen kept sticking out to me. So, in my research this morning I thought about the word Amen and what it really means. According to Wikipedia it means, “So be it,” or in other words, I am in agreement. In the Christian church it is usually found at the end of a prayer which means you are in agreement with the prayer that was just spoken. Then I remembered the song, “Let the church say amen,” so I pulled it up to listened to the lyrics. One part says God has spoken so let the church say amen. Then I thought about life and all the things we ask God for and instead of saying “so be it” or Amen in agreement, we question the reason why certain things happen. You asked God to bind your enemies then get mad when so-called friends aren’t around anymore. You asked God for an increase in money then complain when overtime is offered at your job. You asked for a car because you’re tired of asking for a ride and/or walking then you complain about the gas prices. You asked for a mate then complain because they call too much. You ask God for healing then complain about the medicine the doctor prescribes. You asked God for guidance and then second guess the path that he sets before you. You ask God for a sign and then ignore it. You ask God to open doors for you and then you’re too scared to walk through them. You ask God to move your mountain or obstacle that’s in your way and you’re still turning back to look at it. You asked God for help and then you still worry! You asked God to give momma/daddy rest and then you question him when he sends the death Angel. Where is the Faith? If God has done what you’ve asked him too, shouldn’t you say amen? Humph, even if he hasn’t done what you thought he should, you should still say amen.
See, sometimes God blocks us from doing certain things, not because we are not worthy of it but because we aren’t ready for it. Let me explain. You’ve been praying for a new job with better hours and pay and every time you put in an application, the answer always seems to be no. Then you question God as to why but if you take a good look at your current job you’ll find that you haven’t even given it what it requires or deserves. You always run a little late, your work could be better but because you aren’t happy, you don’t give 100%, you call in and take off just because you want too and you can’t even manage the money that you’re currently making so how can you possibly manage more. If you put the same amount of effort into the job you have now, that it truly deserves, then God will know that you’re capable of handling more responsibilities. It’s like me allowing my teenager to get a part time job after school when she can barely handle the classes in school. Why would I give her more responsibilities when she’s having trouble with the ones she already has. It’s the same way with God. Luke 16:10 says, “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.” See, just because you have the qualifications and you think you can handle the responsibilities of the new job, God knows that you’re not ready for it so why would he put you in a place to fail?
If you have God in your heart then you should know that he won’t take anything from your grasp without a purpose, so you should say amen when a door closes. Just because you didn’t get approved for the car loan you applied for, say amen because it doesn’t mean you’re not deserving of it, God is simply saying wait! Just because you found out you got cancer in your body, say amen because it doesn’t mean God is ready for you to give up, he’s simply taking you through the storm to toughen you up to be able to handle other things that may come in your life. See, when man says no God is saying not right now. Man may say you can’t but God is saying it’s not your time. Man may say you won’t but God is saying stand still and watch me work. Sometimes old stuff has to be torn down in order to receive the new so God sends a storm that rages like a tornado because even after a tornado has demolished your home, the foundation still stands and if you’re foundation is built by God, it’ll still stand after your storm. So when your storm comes, as it will, it’s simply to wash off all the old stuff in order to restore your newness, so say amen. After folks have lied on you, talked about you, drug your name through the dirt, pushed you into a small dusty grave, stabbed you in the front & the back and counted you out; God sends the rain for you to shower in, so say amen. See, he washes away the dirt that has been thrown on you when folk say you won’t ever be anything worthy of your name, so say amen. He washes away the blood from all the cuts and scrapes you got when your best friend stabbed you in your back because she was jealous of your blessings, so say amen. He washes away the mud from under your nails from climbing out of the ditch that your family pushed you in because they didn’t think you deserved the elevation God has placed on your life, so say amen. With God, it doesn’t matter about the number of times you see trials and tribulations as long as you come out of them renewed. All you have to do is say to God what it reads in Psalm 71:20, “Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up.” It doesn’t matter the number of times you get knocked down because God is only concerned about you standing back up. If you decided to give up every time you made a mistake, you probably wouldn’t be where you are. Say amen for the times you’ve fallen because they make you grateful for the times you’re up. Say amen for the enemies who come into your life because they should make you stronger. So amen for the mistakes and errors that you’ve made because they should make you wiser. Say amen for the times momma says no because it should make you more appreciative of the times she says yes.
It’s not always about you getting your way because your way might be the wrong way. Be grateful and say amen for the No you sometimes hear because it makes you appreciate the Yes. See, while you are trying to figure it out, God has already worked it out. While folks are counting your blessings, they are adding theirs to your bucket. While folks are counting you out, God is simply adding pegs to your footstool and lifting you higher! So go on and tell them to talk about you, lie on you, scandalize your name, try to ruin your relationship, and keep on digging that ditch for you because when it’s all over with God has you covered so all is surely well! So say amen because when I no longer look at what I used to be or how I use to look, I see how I was meant to be. I say amen because I am who God has made me, so I will pray every day “Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word,” Psalm 119:37. I’ll say amen because what God has for me, it is for me. I’ll say amen because I stand in total agreement with what and who God has ordained for my life. So, when fake, phony folks walk out, I’ll shout amen! When the car won’t start, I’ll sing amen because I know that God has something better for me. When the job hands me a pink slip, I’ll say amen because there’s something better for me that was being blocked by the old. I’ll say amen because I’m in total agreement with what God says, so “So be it!”
Lakisha, the Author 