Christian Amidah

Blaine Robison, M.A.

Published 19 June 2015; Revised 24 September 2017

Note: This is a modified version of the Amidah, the most important Jewish prayer, dating back to the 5th century B.C. Jesus prayed this prayer when he went to synagogue worship, although in his day there was no prescribed text for each section. The content of the prayer was codified after the destruction of the temple in A.D. 70. The word Amidah literally means standing, because it is recited while standing (cf. Mark 11:25). It is also known as Shemoneh Esrei, meaning eighteen (8+10), because it consists of eighteen blessings or benedictions. Feel free to add you own words in each of the sections of this prayer. Click here for a Messianic Jewish version of the Amidah.

This is an appropriate prayer for Christians because the term "Christians" in Acts 11:26 transliterates the Heb. M'shichim (Messianics) and identifies Jewish followers of the Messiah. (See my web article The First Christians)

1. Ancestors: Blessed are You, LORD God, Creator of the heavens and the earth, God Most High, and God of the patriarchs, God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob. The great El Shaddai, mighty and awesome God, God Supreme who extends loving kindness and is Master of all, who remembers the gracious deeds of our spiritual forefathers, and who has brought a Redeemer with love for His name's sake. King, Helper, Savior and Protector, blessed are You, LORD God, Protector of all Abraham's seed.

2. Powers: Your might is eternal, LORD God, who revives the dead, powerful in saving, who makes the wind to blow and the rain to fall, who sustains the living with loving kindness, who revives the dead with great mercy, who supports the falling, heals the sick, frees the captive, and keeps faith with the dead; who is like You, Almighty, and who resembles You, O King, who can bring death and give life.

3. Sanctification of the Name: We cry with the angels: Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD God Almighty. Your name is holy, and those who are holy shall praise You every day. Blessed are You, LORD God, the holy God. [Selah - meditate on this.]

4. Understanding: You grant knowledge to man, and teach understanding to humans; from Your own self, favor us with knowledge, understanding, and sense. May your light spread unhindered throughout the world. Blessed are You, Lord God, giver of knowledge.

5. Repentance: Return us, our Abba Father, to Your Scriptures, and draw us closer, our King, to Your worship, and bring us back before You in complete repentance. Blessed are You, LORD God, who desires repentance. [Remember any unsaved friends, family members or others.]

6. Forgiveness: Forgive us, our Father, for we have sinned, pardon us, our King, for we have transgressed, for You are a pardoner and forgiver. Blessed are You, LORD God, gracious One, who forgives abundantly. [Name your own sins, failures, doubtful practices, hurtful actions toward another and unloving attitudes that need forgiveness.]

7. Redemption: Look upon us in our suffering, and fight our struggles, redeem us speedily, for Your name's sake, for You are a mighty Redeemer. Blessed are You, Jesus our Messiah, Son of God, Son of Man and Redeemer of the Commonwealth of Israel.

8. Healing: Heal us, O LORD God, and we shall be healed, save us and we shall be saved, for You are our glory. Send complete healing for every illness among your people, for You, Divine King, are the faithful, merciful Physician. By the wounds of our Messiah and in his name we are healed. Blessed are You, LORD God, who heals the sick of Your people. [Remember any in the congregation, your family or acquaintances that need healing.]

9. Blessing for Years: Bless this year for us, O LORD God, and all its varied produce that it be for good; provide dew and rain as a blessing on the face of the earth, satisfy us with Your goodness, and bless this year like the good years. Blessed are You, LORD God, who blessed the years with fruitfulness.

10. Return: Sound the great trumpet to proclaim freedom for all the Land of Israel, lift up a banner for the ingathering of Your exiled people, and bring them together from the four corners of the earth. Blessed are You, LORD God, who gathers together the dispersed descendants of Jacob to fulfill the word of the prophets. [Pray also that Jews spiritually exiled from God will return and accept Jesus as their Messiah and Savior.]

11. Justice: Restore justice in the land and remove from us sorrow and sighing. Defend the fatherless, protect the widow. Save the innocent from destruction. Rebuke the oppressor. Break down the strongholds of evil in our culture. Rule over us, O LORD God, with kindness and mercy, and vindicate us in the judgment. Blessed are You, LORD God, King, who loves righteousness and justice.

12. Righteous: On the righteous and the godly, on the leaders of Your people, on the Commonwealth of Israel and Body of Messiah, on the teachers of Your Word, on all true disciples of the Lord Jesus, let Your compassion flow, O LORD God. Grant a good reward to all who sincerely trust in Your name; place our lot with them forever and let us not be shamed, for in You do we trust. Blessed are You, LORD God, the support and security of the righteous.

13. Builder of Jerusalem: To Jerusalem Your city and capital of Israel, return with compassion, and dwell within it as You promised; cleanse it of idolatry and wickedness, build it in our day as an everlasting structure; and speedily establish the reign of Jesus our Messiah and King in its midst on the throne of David. Blessed are You, LORD God, builder of Jerusalem.

14. Blessing of David: The offspring of Your servant David, King and Messiah Jesus, quickly come to bring deliverance; for Your deliverance do we constantly hope. Blessed are You, LORD God, who makes the glory of deliverance to flourish.

15. Prayers: Hear our voice, O LORD God, show compassion and mercy to us, accept our prayers with mercy and favor, for You are a God who hears prayers and supplications. [You may add a personal prayer.]

16. Worship: Favorably receive, O LORD God, Your people into Your presence. Restore true worship in the Body of Messiah wherever they meet and anoint our gatherings with the Holy Spirit. Receive with love and favor our devotion to the day of worship, our praises, our prayers and our gifts offered to You. May You be exalted in our midst. Blessed are You, LORD God, who dwells in the midst of our worship.

17. Thanksgiving: We give thanks to You, LORD our God and God of our fathers, for all eternity. You are the strength of our lives, the shield of our deliverance. In every generation, we shall thank You and declare Your praise for our lives that are entrusted in Your hand, and for our souls that are in Your care, and for Your miracles that are daily with us, and for Your wondrous deeds and goodness that occur at all times, evening, morning, and noon. You are the Benevolent One, for Your mercies are never ended. The Compassionate One, for Your deeds of kindness do not stop, always have we placed our hope in You. For all this, O Jesus, our King, may Your name be always blessed and exalted forever and ever. All the living will forever thank You and praise Your name in truth, O Messiah Jesus, our eternal salvation and help. Blessed are You, LORD God, whose name is goodness; it is pleasing to give thanks to You. [Selah - meditate on this.]

18. Peace: Establish peace, well-being, blessing, grace, loving kindness, and mercy upon us and upon all of the Commonwealth of Israel, for by the light of Your presence have you given us, O LORD God, instruction of life in Your Word, love of kindness, justice, blessing, compassion, life, and peace, and it is good in Your sight to bless Your people at all times and in every hour with Your peace. Blessed are You, LORD God, who blessed His people, the Commonwealth of Israel, with peace.