5. The word _"Amen"_ with which we conclude our prayer means, as our Catechism explains it: _"Yea, yea, it shall be so."_ We express in this word our assurance that our prayers are _acceptable to our Father in heaven,_ and that _He will hear them._ May we really be certain that our petitions are acceptable to God? Most assuredly. _Our Lord Himself has given us this prayer,_ He has taught us these petitions, and _"has commanded us so to pray."_ When in true devotion, in the name of our Redeemer, we come to our Father and pray these petitions, how could it be otherwise than that our Father is well pleased! And He Himself, our Father, has so often _promised that He will hear us,_ that He will grant our prayer. Our Lord has promised us: _"Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it you."_ John 16,23. How could we doubt that God will hear us when we pray in Christ's name, according to His will?--Indeed, it sometimes seems to us as if God _did not hear_ our prayers. But it only seems so; God hears every true prayer. But we must not forget that God grants us our petitions _in His own manner,_ which we often do not understand. He does not always grant our petitions at once, but _at His appointed time,_ at the time He has appointed for His help, which, indeed, is the best time for us. Confidently we always want to conclude our prayers with, _"Amen; yea, yea, it shall be so."_ REMEMBER:-- 1. _We pray in this petition: My dear Father in heaven, lead me through all my afflictions according to Thy gracious will and pleasure, and when my last hour has come, grant me a blessed end and take me up to Thee in heaven, and so deliver me from all evil._ 2. _We are certain that this, our Lord's Prayer, as well as all the prayers we are bringing before God in accordance with it, are acceptable to God, and heard; for He Himself has commanded us so to pray and promised to hear us._ MEMORIZE:-- _We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God._ Acts 14,22. _The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto His heavenly kingdom._ 2 Tim. 4,18. _Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace according to Thy word; for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation._ Luke 2,29.30. QUESTIONS.