Good morning. Today is Tuesday, August 4th!

🥳 Congratulations on starting today with God, and thank you for letting us be a part of it.

— Revelation 22:20

The Bible records hundreds of prayers.

Some are long. Solomon’s prayer dedicating the temple fills nearly an entire chapter (1 Kings 8). Jesus’ prayer for His followers in John 17 spans twenty-six verses. Many of David’s prayers became entire psalms.

Yet after all of those prayers, the Bible ends with one of its shortest.

In Revelation 22, the apostle John has just been shown the new heaven and the new earth. He has seen a future where death, mourning, crying, and pain are gone forever. As the vision comes to a close, Jesus makes one final promise:

“Yes, I am coming soon.” (Revelation 22:20, NIV)

John immediately responds:

“Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” (Revelation 22:20, NIV)

That is generally considered the last prayer recorded in the Bible.

If you’re reading carefully, you may notice there’s one more verse after it:

“The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.” (Revelation 22:21, NIV)

That’s a closing blessing, or benediction, which is why John’s words are recognized as the Bible’s final recorded prayer.

It’s a remarkably short prayer, but every word matters.

The word “Amen” means something like, “Truly,” “Certainly,” or “So be it.” John is agreeing with Jesus’ promise.

Then comes the prayer itself:

“Come, Lord Jesus.”

John isn’t asking Jesus to come for the first time. Jesus had already come, died for our sins, risen from the dead, and ascended into heaven. John is praying for Christ’s return. He’s longing for the day Jesus keeps His promise, defeats evil forever, removes sin and death, and makes all things new.

It’s fitting that after hundreds of prayers, God chose to end His Word with one this short.

That doesn’t mean every prayer should be short. The Bible includes many long and beautiful prayers. But it does remind us that prayers don’t have to be long to be meaningful.

Jesus said not to think we’ll be heard because of our “many words” (Matthew 6:7). Paul also wrote, “Pray continually.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Praying continually doesn’t mean one nonstop prayer all day. It means living in constant conversation with God. Some prayers will be long. Many will be short.

The Bible’s final prayer reminds us that even a simple sentence, spoken in faith, is precious to God:

“Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”

When you’re not sure how to pray, A.C.T.S. gives you a simple path to follow: Adore, Confess, Thank, and Ask.

Adoration: Father, You are holy, faithful, and true.

Confession: Forgive me for losing sight of Your promises and becoming too focused on this world.

Thanksgiving: Thank You for the promise that He is coming again.

Supplication: Help me to pray continually and live with eager hope for Christ’s return.

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

“The Long Surrender” by NEEDTOBREATHE

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See you tomorrow,

Zach | Start With God