“Our heart can be heavy with sadness while our soul is lightened by our heavenly Father’s love.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – June 24, 2022
Very truly I [Jesus] tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. John 16:23
At times, I find myself praying incomplete and ineffective prayers. Instead of praying in the spirit of Jesus’ name—I drift into praying in my name, in the name of a cause, or a church. My prayers become sterile when the spirit of my speech is self-directed, not Spirit led. I still say at the end of my petition— “In Jesus’ Name”—but it resembles a hollow habit—a rubber stamp, instead of the Holy Spirit’s validation. My prayers gain God’s ear when I ask in Jesus’ name.
In the moments preceding His passion, Jesus had the disciples’ undivided attention. So He took time to remind them how to pray powerful prayers in His name. To pray in Jesus’ name was to pray representative of the person Christ. Pray peace, because Jesus represented peace. Pray love, because Jesus represented love. Pray meekness, because Jesus represented meekness. Pray forgiveness, because Jesus represented forgiveness. Prayers in Jesus’ name also meant alignment with His heart. Prayers consistent with God’s will, further God’s will. By faith ask in Jesus’ name.
“Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete” (John 16:24).
Have some of your prayers become rote and religious, lacking the Lord’s leadership? One way to bring back freshness in supplications to your Savior is to write out your prayers. Put words on paper, so you are precise and passionate about what stirs God’s heart. Written prayers invite the Spirit to etch His desires onto the tablet of your soul. Write out what you want to live out. Moreover, pray prayers found in the Bible. The precious prayers of God’s people recalibrate your prayers to God’s glory. “I will exalt you, my God the King” (Psalm 145:1). Pray in Jesus’ name.
Furthermore, there is a completeness of joy that comes from praying in Christ’s name. As we pray in Jesus’ name, we trust in the Lord to move hearts to accomplish His will. We rest in peace and joy knowing He will handle whatever comes our way. Thus, our sorrow becomes superficial where Jesus’ joy deeply abides. Our heart can be heavy with sadness while our soul is lightened by our heavenly Father’s love. Above all, we focus on God’s fame when we pray in Jesus’ name. We are not the same when we pray in His name.
Oswald Chambers beautifully describes what it means to pray in His name: Jesus said that because of His name God will recognize and respond to our prayers. What a great challenge and invitation— to pray in His name! Through the resurrection and ascension power of Jesus, and through the Holy Spirit He has sent, we can be lifted into such a relationship. Once in that wonderful position, having been placed there by Jesus Christ, we can pray to God in Jesus’ name— in His nature. This is a gift granted to us through the Holy Spirit, and Jesus said, “…whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.”
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:12).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, keep me focused on praying in Jesus’ name, through Christ’s love and in His name, amen.
Application
What big idea is the Lord waiting for me to ask Him to accomplish for His glory, and in Jesus’ name?
Related Reading
Isaiah 56:7; 1 Samuel 12:22; Psalm 138:2; Acts 4:11-13; Philippians 1:4
Worship Resource
Katy Nicole: In Jesus Name
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