What does it mean to pray in Jesus' name?
To pray in Jesus' name is not to add a magic phrase to the end of a prayer; it is to pray in the authority and person of Christ, on the basis of what He has done, and in line with His will. Jesus promised that whatever we ask in His name, He will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. To pray in Jesus' name is to come to the Father through the Son, asking what honors Him and aligns with His purposes.
This question arose from studying Does God really hear my prayers? and What does it mean to pray in the Holy Spirit?.
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What the Scripture says
Praying in Jesus' name is praying on His authority
To ask in Jesus' name is not to append His name as a spell but to come to the Father through Him, on the ground of who He is and what He has done. Jesus said, 'Whatever you will ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.' Paul speaks of our access to the Father through Christ in one Spirit, and the promise is that whatever we ask of the Father in Jesus' name, He will give. The name of Jesus is our access, not our incantation.
Whatever you will ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If you will ask anything in my name, I will do it.
“In that day you will ask me no questions. Most certainly I tell you, whatever you may ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.
For through him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.
It is the prayer of one who abides in Him
The promise of answered prayer in His name is given to Jesus' disciples, to those who remain in Him. He said, 'If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you,' and 'You didn't choose me, but I chose you... that whatever you will ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you.' Praying in Jesus' name grows out of a life that abides in His word and His purpose.
If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you.
You didn’t choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatever you will ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
It is to pray in line with His will
Praying in Jesus' name is not asking for whatever we want and stamping His name on it; it is asking what He would ask. John gives the guard and the confidence in one clause: 'if we ask anything according to his will, he listens to us.' And Jesus said that His answer in His name is given 'that the Father may be glorified in the Son.' A prayer in Jesus' name seeks the glory of the Father and the purposes of the Son, not simply our own comfort.
This is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he listens to us.
Whatever you will ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
“In that day you will ask me no questions. Most certainly I tell you, whatever you may ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.
It extends to our whole life in Him
The name of Jesus is not only for our prayers; it governs our whole lives. Paul writes, 'Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father, through him,' and to give thanks to God in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our lives are to be lived in His name, which means our prayers and our actions both are to bear His character and give Him thanks.
Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father, through him.
giving thanks always concerning all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to God, even the Father;
So we pray boldly, because of who He is
Because Jesus has that name, we are bold to pray. 'There is salvation in none other, for neither is there any other name under heaven... by which we must be saved,' and the church, threatened and afraid, prayed to God in the name of His holy Servant Jesus for boldness, and the place was shaken and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Praying in Jesus' name is praying to the Father through the Son, confident because He is the one name given, and certain that He hears and will do what He has promised.
There is salvation in none other, for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, by which we must be saved!”
Now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness,
When they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were gathered together. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
This is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he listens to us.
“In that day you will ask me no questions. Most certainly I tell you, whatever you may ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.
As you read, you may wonder…
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Verses to meditate on
Whatever you will ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you will ask anything in my name, I will do it.
You didn’t choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatever you will ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
This is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he listens to us.
Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father, through him.
There is salvation in none other, for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, by which we must be saved!”
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