Praying in Jesus' Name

 Perhaps one of the bigger disappointments that Christians carry is the despondency that important prayers seem unanswered.  Why does God not do what I have asked for in faith?  It is an important and valid question and one that Jesus gives us insight towards understanding from His instruction to His disciples.

Meditation
John 14:13,14--Whatever you ask in My name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.
 
Isaac Dagneau wrote:
At first glance and without context, this verse sounds like the ticket to all the pleasure and happiness in the world! Yet, this ticket is quickly crumbled up and thrown on the ground when it seemingly proves untrue. However, upon reading it in its context we will find that it’s absolutely true and quite exciting.[1]
         
The words “in My name” should be understood contextually.  We must realize that this is not a charmed phrase: “This we ask in Jesus' name, as a kind of magic formula, like rubbing Aladdin's lamp so that the genie of God will suddenly appear and do all that we ask!”[2]
 At the very least, “in My name” implies:
     

• To pray in agreement with God’s will—with the result that He is glorified.  John reemphasizes this in 1 John 5:14,15:  “Now this is the confidence we have before Him: Whenever we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  And if we know that He hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked Him for.”  The “anything” we are after is aligned with God’s will. 

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• To stand in Jesus' place. Ray Stedman noted, “And where was Jesus standing when He said these words? Facing the cross.”  To pray in His name therefore matches with His mission and purpose.  R.A. Torrey wrote in The Power of Prayer, “And sometimes as I think of how precious the name of Jesus Christ is to God, how He delights to honor the name of His Son, I grow very bold and ask God for great things.”

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• To invoke and believe in Jesus’ authority.  People are healed, lives are transformed, mountains are moved and miracles accomplished because of the power that flows from Him.  Our faith celebrates that He is able.  

By examining what we want and then asking does this pass the “in My name” test we will wisely refine what launches from our heart and mind to heaven and Lord-willing find great joy in seeing God do what we ask to His acclaim.  Something to think about . . . in reveration!
 
Inspiration
In the New Testament, name frequently stands for nature.  When we pray in the name of Jesus, the answers are in accordance with His nature, and if we think our prayers are unanswered it is because we are not interpreting the answer along this line.—Oswald Chambers in He Shall Glorify Me
 
©2020 Daniel York ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)

[1] https://www.indoubt.com/articles/jesus-said-what-a-look-at-john-1413-14/
[2] https://www.raystedman.org/daily-devotions/john-13to17/in-his-name