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Answered Prayer Promised in Jesus’ Name

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The following is taken from Bob Hoekstra’s Day By Day By Grace devotional. Have you picked your reading plan or daily devotional for the year? Find out which are available at the BLB.

“And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”
(John 14:13-14)

We who belong to the Lord have a great invitation to thoroughly express our hearts to Him in humble, dependent prayer. “Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him” (Psalm 62:8). We also have a great need to speak to Him. “Without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). We also have great promises of answered prayer. “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do…If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”

True prayer is anchored in the will of God

When the people of God are prayerless, they do not receive from the Lord all that He wants to give to them. “You do not have because you do not ask” (James 4:2). At times, God’s children pray, but they still do not receive from the Lord. “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures” (James 4:3). Their prayers are anchored in their own wills and interests. True praying is to be anchored in the will of God. “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, 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 the petitions that we have asked of Him” (1 John 5:14-15).

Praying in the Word

At this juncture, the Scriptures are vital in our daily prayer life. God’s word directs us in praying according to the will of God. “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7). As we are abiding in (depending upon) Christ, we will want His word to have full sway in our lives. As we consistently get into His word, the Scriptures shape our thoughts and our desires. Consequently, we ask what the Lord teaches us to desire. In that beautiful biblical setting, He promises to give us whatever we ask.

Praying in Jesus’ name

All of this describes the essence of praying in the name of Jesus. Praying in Jesus’ name is not merely a formula of words with which to conclude our prayers. Whether we verbalize that phrase or not, it is about praying as Jesus would pray (always concerned with the will of His Father). It is about praying based on all that the word teaches concerning the person and work of the Lord Jesus on our behalf. Those who pray this way enjoy the certainty of these great promises of answered prayer, and they see much glory brought to God. “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”

Lord Jesus, thank You for these great promises of answered prayer. Teach me to pray in Your name. Please shape my praying by all that Your word reveals concerning Your will and Your work on my behalf. In Your precious name, I pray, Amen.

Comments

  1. Just what I needed…truth. this website has been such a blessing to me in my journey in helping me to obtain a closer walk with Christ & KNOW my Bible. Thank you.

  2. there is no other name by which men can be saved!! we are so blessed to be able to approach God, let alone given this great gift of conversation with Him in Jesus name. we are also given the gift of Holy Spirit being in our lives and praying for us also!!.Gods word tells us to pray in the Holy Ghost, in an unknown language, or tongues. 1Cr 14:2 For he that speaketh in an [unknown] tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth [him]; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. oh what a mighty God we serve!!

    • This commentary blesses in that brings us closer to the purpose of God.

      Isa 45:21 Tell ye, and bring [them] near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? [who] hath told it from that time? [have] not I the LORD? and [there is] no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; [there is] none beside me.

      Is the only God offended if you call Him Savior? Jesus tells us that we must be in Him. The apostles confirm that we must be in Him. In Him is the will of God.

      Psa 8:9, Psa 44:3-8, Jhn 5:43, Rom 16:25-27, Mat 1:21, Luk 1:31, 1Ti 3:16, Col 2:2-3, Eph 3:9, 2Cr 4:3-4, 1Cr 2:4-14, Rev 10:7

      Jhn 14:13-14, Mat 28:19

  4. Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.” We already have ALL spiritual blessings without having to ask for them.