Have you ever wondered why some people end their prayers with, “in Jesus’ name I pray”? If you read John chapter 16, verses 23 and 24, you’ll learn that this practice is biblically based. In it, Jesus says:
“I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”
Jesus tells us that God will give us whatever we ask in his name. He continues by saying, “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive.” Some people who pray in Jesus’ name may be doing so because that is the way they have been taught to pray, but those of us who are familiar with these verses realize that there is scriptural support for praying this way. Does this mean that if we don’t pray in Jesus’ name that our prayers won’t be answered? I doubt it. But I’d be the wrong person to ask because I always end my prayers “in Jesus’ name”, almost like a stamp you’d put on a letter. The postage ensures that your letter will get to its destination. And whether right or wrong, I plan to continue to seal my prayers by praying “in Jesus’ name”.
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Jesus, himself, supports the idea that when we pray, we should pray in his name. He mentioned this when he was telling his disciples that he would no longer be with them. If he told his disciples to pray in his name, don’t you think it might be a good practice that we should follow as well? If you’ve been praying this way, then great. But if you haven’t, I challenge you to begin praying in Jesus’ name. It is just another form of obedience spoken to us, by Jesus himself.