Scripture
Our verse for today comes from John 14:13, “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
Background
“In Jesus’ name, amen.” Chances are you’ve heard that phrase tacked on the end of thousands of prayers. Chances are you’ve tacked them on countless times yourself. From the very earliest age of growing up in the church, or soon after giving your life to Jesus at some later stage, each of us probably learned about praying “in Jesus’ name.” But what did we learn? A secret formula for getting things from God? The magic words to have all of your requests granted? If so, then shame on the one who advocated for that type of shallow, unbiblical teaching. For all that misguidance did was open the door for the young believer to experience frustration and disillusion such that they either walked away from God or spent time relating to Him inappropriately. In Ephesians, Paul tells that church that he continually makes mention of them in his prayers. And what he prays for on their behalf is telling, and extraordinary. He asks the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, to grant them the spirit of wisdom and understanding in the knowledge of Him. He prays that they may know the hope of His calling on their lives, and what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance. And he prays that they may know the exceeding greatness of His power toward us all who believe, which was displayed in the resurrection. And there it is, “in Jesus’ name.”
Application
When our hearts are so consumed with the grandness of God and all that He has accomplished, when we strive to consider and grasp the immeasurable abundance of His salvation offered through grace, then what will overflow from our soul is nothing less than yearning for God to be glorified through Jesus. And whatever that produces in the form of prayers and requests will carry with it the authority and authenticity of the name of Jesus, perfectly abiding in the presence of God on His throne. That type of prayer may not be as familiar to us as the ones where we seek help and healing. But they certainly are sweet sounds to the ear of God.
Charge
As we seek Him today, consider how you communicate with God, what you communicate about, and whose name your prayers seem to represent.
Author – Rich Holt | BCWorldview.org
Join – Medium for unlimited access to 18 million articles.
Donate – to Biblical Christian Worldview, a 501(c)3 Nonprofit.
Subscribe – to either of Biblical Christian Worldview’s newsletters.
