Praying in the Name of Jesus

What does it mean to ask in the name of Jesus? Growing up in my denominational church the only prayers we prayed were those from a book. After I became a born again believer, I heard many people pray “in the name of Jesus”. Praying this way usually meant that the prayer included the phrase “in the name of Jesus” as a period on the end of the prayer.

Jesus promised great power to those who prayed in His name. “In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. ” (John 16:23–24, NIV84) Jesus promises that what we ask for we will receive when we ask in His name.

Do we receive everything we pray for? Have we received all that we ask from God? An honest look at my own life, and I learned that praying in the name of Jesus was not adding His name to the end of my prayer like a period.

Praying in the name of Jesus is praying with the heart of Jesus. It is prayer in Gethsemane where we pray “Not my will, but Yours be done” . Praying in the name of Jesus is praying with the compassion of Jesus. It is crying when Jesus cries. Praying in the name of Jesus is going up alone and staying on the mountainside and asking God to speak to us (John 6:15).

Praying in the name of Jesus is speaking only what the Father tells us to speak and doing what the Father tells us to do. It is taking the time to be with the Father until we know the Father’s heart and surrender to the Father’s will. “For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.” ” (John 12:49–50, NIV84)

Praying in the name of Jesus means I am spending time allowing God to change my heart to become more like His heart. It means I desire intimacy with the Father. It is the prayer of surrender that entrusts all my needs to the Father and seeks God not for His provision but for His Heart. “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. ” (Matthew 6:31–34, NIV84)

My prayer with the Lord then becomes surrender. My prayer then becomes intimacy. My prayer then becomes powerful. When I focus on allowing God to change me and I focus on surrendering and obeying His will, then I no longer ask God but I am empowered to decree and speak God’s will.

After allowing prayer to change me, I can speak forth God’s word and the Life that is in the word will work. The demons will flee. The sick will be healed. The broken will be restored. Signs, wonders and miracles will follow because I believe.

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