“And it is in your name we pray, Amen.”

Sounds familiar, right? That is the common ending of a prayer in many religious traditions. Many people even use the word “amen” to agree with the preacher, or even in a casual conversation: “Can I get an ‘Amen?’” a preacher might say, or some girlfriends may use it in a sacrilegious, gossip-filled conversation and say, “Girl, I know that’s right. Amen to that.”

It has been understood the word has Hebrew origins, meaning, “so be it.”

“Pray about it” is what mama used to say. It’s good for the soul. Many of us pray for a miracle, for guidance, a significant other, sanity, money, and just about everything else. For some of us, we feel a little better after we’ve let it all out, and let God know the desires of our hearts.

Prayer in the universal sense is simply a form of communication, be it with God, self, the universe, or whatever entity people decide to release their most intimate thoughts and desires to.