Praying in Jesus’ name is a common phrase heard in many Christian prayers. But what exactly does it mean to pray in Jesus’ name? Here is an in-depth look at the meaning and significance behind this important practice.
The Origin of Praying in Jesus’ Name
The practice of praying in Jesus’ name comes directly from the Bible. In John 14:13-14, Jesus tells his disciples, “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” Later in John 16:23-24, Jesus reiterates this teaching, saying “In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” From these verses, we see that Jesus himself instructed his followers to pray to God the Father in his name.
The apostles clearly took Jesus’ words to heart, because praying in Jesus’ name became a common practice in the early church. Many prayers recorded in the New Testament conclude with phrases like “in the name of Jesus Christ” or “through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Acts 3:6, 4:10, 16:18, 1 Cor 1:2, Eph 5:20, Col 3:17). So the tradition of praying in Jesus’ name has clear scriptural origins and authority.
What It Means to Pray in Jesus’ Name
Praying in Jesus’ name is more than just tacking a phrase onto the end of a prayer. It actually expresses several important theological truths:
- Praying through Christ’s authority – To pray in Jesus’ name is to pray through His authority as the Son of God. When we pray according to God’s will and through Christ’s authority, we can approach God the Father with confidence that He will hear and answer (1 John 5:14-15).
- Praying in Christ’s merits – We have no righteousness of our own, but when we pray in Jesus’ name, we approach God through Jesus’ perfect righteousness rather than our own sinfulness or worthiness. His blood atones for our sin, allowing us to boldly enter God’s presence (Hebrews 10:19-22).
- Praying as Christ’s representatives – As adopted children of God through faith, Christians have been given the privilege of direct access to the Father through Christ. When we pray in Jesus’ name, we pray as His representatives on earth, seeking His purposes and will in prayer.
- Acknowledging Christ as mediator – Jesus alone is the mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5). He sits at the right hand of God, ever interceding for us (Hebrews 7:25). Praying in His name acknowledges that He is our only mediator and intercessor before the Father.
- Submission to Christ’s Lordship – Praying in Jesus’ name means setting aside our own will and desires to fully submit to Christ’s plans and purposes. We align our requests with His will as an act of submission to His Lordship in our lives.
Why Pray in Jesus’ Name?
Jesus tells us to pray in his name because he wants us to understand the access and authority we have through faith in him. Here are some reasons why it’s important to pray in Jesus’ name:
- It honors Christ as the sole mediator between God and man.
- It recognizes that our relationship with God comes through Christ’s atoning work.
- It submits our motives and requests to God’s perfect will.
- It aligns our prayers with Christ’s purposes and brings glory to him.
- It allows us to approach God boldly and with confidence in Christ.
- It enables us to participate in Christ’s high priestly work of intercession.
- It brings our prayers into agreement with the One who ever lives to make intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25).
In short, praying in Jesus’ name reminds us that our access to God and relationship with him are possible only through the saving work and mediatorship of Christ. It brings our prayers into alignment with his eternal purposes and encourages humility, submission and dependency on Christ in our prayer lives.
Hindrances to Praying in Jesus’ Name
Although praying in Jesus’ name is commanded in Scripture, believers may struggle to do so in a meaningful way. Here are some things that can hinder praying in Jesus’ name:
- Pride – Being too proud to relinquish our own will and align with Christ’s purposes.
- Presumption – Assuming that adding “in Jesus’ name” to a prayer obligates God to answer however we wish.
- Self-interest – Praying selfishly for our own pleasures rather than for God’s glory.
- Unconfessed sin – Allowing unrepentant sin to separate us from close fellowship with Christ.
- Lack of faith – Doubting that God hears and answers prayers offered in Jesus’ name.
- Unforgiveness – Holding grudges against others makes it hard to pray in unity with Christ’s Spirit.
- Legalism – Rote habitual attachment of the phrase with little reverence for Christ.
- Lethargy – Neglecting prayer and lacking passion for Christ’s purposes and glory.
Believers should reflect on anything that prevents them from sincerely praying in Jesus’ name, and seek to remove those barriers through repentance, faith and the pursuit of Christlikeness.
How to Pray in Jesus’ Name
Scripture exhorts us to pray in Jesus’ name, but how do we actually do that? Here are some practical tips:
- Spend time meditating on who Christ is – his character, love, grace, authority, and power.
- Reflect on his promises regarding prayer and trusting in his will.
- Surrender your heart’s desires to align with his purposes and glory.
- Ask for courage and humility to submit fully to his Lordship.
- Seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance in showing you how to pray according to God’s will.
- Lift up others rather than simply seeking things for yourself.
- Thank Jesus for the privilege of direct access to the Father through him.
- Ask specifically according to God’s Word rather than vague generalities.
- Confess any known sins and continue to walk in holiness and obedience.
- Pray with expectancy, trusting Christ to answer according to his wisdom.
While these practical steps can help, prayer in Jesus’ name is ultimately a heart posture rooted in knowing Christ personally. It’s not just a matter of tacking on the right phrase, but cultivating an intimate walk with Jesus that influences everything we pray.
Examples of Praying in Jesus’ Name
Scripture gives us many examples of prayers offered in Jesus’ name. Here are a few model prayers to inspire our own prayer lives:
“Lord Jesus, thank you for bringing me near to the Father through your blood. I do not ask these things because I am worthy, but because you are worthy and you have invited me to boldly approach your throne by your grace. Align my heart to your priorities and will as I make these requests…”
“Heavenly Father, I praise you for adopting me as your child through faith in Christ! Thank you for listening as I come to you in the name of Jesus, my righteousness and advocate. Teach me to pray according to your wisdom and purposes…”
“Lord, I confess my sin before you and turn from it. Purify my desires and grant me your peace. I ask these things in faith, trusting that you hear and answer prayers offered in Spirit and in your Son’s name. Not my will but yours be done.”
These examples demonstrate humility, faith in God’s will, reliance on Christ’s righteousness, submission to the Spirit, and trust in God’s wisdom. They provide helpful models for meaningful prayer in Jesus’ name.
Jesus’ Name and Prayer Promises
Scripture contains many encouraging promises connected to praying in Jesus’ name. Here are a few:
- “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” (John 14:13-14)
- “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” (John 15:16)
- “In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.” (John 16:23)
- “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” (John 15:7)
- “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” (1 John 5:14-15)
These verses assure believers that God listens attentively to prayers sincerely offered in Jesus’ name, and encourages us to have bold faith and confidence as we approach him through Christ.
The Priority of God’s Will
However, praying in Jesus’ name does not give us a blank check to make selfish requests and treat God like a genie in a bottle. 1 John 5:14 says we must ask according to His will. Jesus also submitted His requests to the Father’s will, saying “Yet not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39).
This shows that when we pray in Jesus’ name, we still need to make God’s purposes and glory the top priority, rather than our own comfort or desires. We align ourselves with Christ’s priorities, seek the Spirit’s guidance, and trust God’s infinite wisdom in answering according to His perfect will and timing.
Jesus’ Name and Spiritual Warfare
Praying in Jesus’ name also applies to spiritual warfare against demonic forces. Philippians 2:9-10 declares that God gave Jesus “the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow.” When confronted with spiritual attacks, addiction, oppression or possession, believers have power through invoking Jesus’ name in prayer as a reminder of his supreme authority over the demonic realm. The Apostles demonstrated this in places like Acts 3:6 and 16:18.
Pray Continually in Jesus’ Name
Praying in Jesus’ name should be part of a believer’s whole lifestyle of prayer, not just occasionally or as a concluding formula. Paul exhorts believers to “pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5:17), which includes continually cultivating awareness of our connection to Christ. Through Him, by faith, we always have access to the Father. Colossians 3:17 says “whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus.” So whether through developed prayer times or spontaneous cries for help, we exercise our privilege of coming to God the Father through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ.
Takeaways on Praying in Jesus’ Name
- It’s a practice Jesus Himself commanded and modeled.
- It’s more than just a phrase – it expresses truths about Christ’s authority, righteousness, and mediatorship.
- It aligns our motives and requests with God’s will and purposes.
- It allows us to approach God with reverence, confidence, and expectant faith.
- It should become a regular practice and heart posture in our prayer lives.
- It reminds us of our constant access to the Father through the Son.
- It enables our participation in Christ’s intercessory work.
In all things, prayer in Jesus’ name brings glory and honor to Christ our Savior and Lord. It humbles us in dependency on Him rather than ourselves. And it aligns our will with God’s purposes as we boldly yet reverently approach His throne by faith.
