Good morning. There is the story of the older, not quite elderly, couple who, at the wife’s insistence, went to a marriage counselor. The gentleman in question was a farmer who was known to be short on words. They had used nearly the entire hour of their visit, and other than the husband nodding or shaking his head a few times, he hadn’t communicated anything. With their time about up, the wife burst into tears and asked if she could explain the problem. The counselor agreed, so she turned to her husband and shouted, “We’ve been married over 30 years, and you never tell me that you love me!” Finally, the husband/farmer had something to say. “What are you talking about? When the preacher married us, he asked if we loved each other, and I said yes. I figure if that ever changes, I’ll let you know!”
That is not a recipe for a successful marriage relationship. Neither is it a recipe for a proper relationship with our Lord. Love needs to be stated, but it also must be expressed in ways that go beyond words. Saying “I love you” to God in prayer is essential but saying those words alone may not draw our heart into an intimate place with Him. Praying to God in the name of Jesus is a prayer of power, but those words should mean more.
When we pray, we do so in the name of Jesus, as we should. The Lord Himself proclaimed the righteousness of praying in His name. As He was telling the disciples in John 16 that His time with them was running short, He instructed them to use His name in prayer: In that day you will not ask Me anything. “I assure you: Anything you ask the Father in My name, He will give you. Until now you have asked for nothing in My name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete. John 16:23-24
This is not saying that asking the Father in the name of Jesus means that He will immediately give us our heart’s desire. Praying “in Jesus’ name” means praying within His will. Jesus and the Father are one, therefore prayers in the name of Jesus are prayers that are within the Father’s will, and all that is asked within the will of the Father, will be done.
Paul Harvey told the story of a 3 year old boy who was in the grocery store with his mother. As they entered the store, she placed him up on the child seat at the back of the shopping cart, and she told him, “We aren’t buying chocolate chip cookies today, so don’t even ask.” Oh, how the little boy loved chocolate chip cookies! When they were in the aisle where the cookies were located, he asked his mom, “There are the chocolate chip cookies! Can we have some?” “NO!” she replied. “I told you, don’t even ask.” Some minutes later they passed by the same aisle and the little boy said, “Mommy! I love you so much! Can we have some chocolate chip cookies?” “NO!” she replied, “and you’d better not ask again.” When they were in line at the check-out the little boy saw another cart that had chocolate chip cookies. He was about to ask again, but his mom gave him a look that said, “Don’t even try it buster.” Suddenly, the little boy stood up on his seat and shouted, “In the name of Jesus, I pray that I can have some chocolate chip cookies!” Everyone around them laughed, but not the mom, who told him to be quiet and to sit down. But within a few minutes, several of the other patrons at the store were throwing bags and boxes of chocolate chip cookies into their cart, all paid for. “See mom,” the little guy said with a grin, “In the name of Jesus!”
Praying in the name of Jesus provides the love connection that makes our heart right as we come to the Father in prayer. There is power, and it is a power fused with love.
God sent His Son, Jesus, to provide the all-powerful “love connection” between Himself and mankind. God is love, and Jesus is an expression of His love. How can we not fully love God as we pour out our love for our Savior? …looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2
For the joy of the cross; for the joy of what that cross accomplishes; for the joy of knowing that through the cross, His loved ones (you and I) are saved; Jesus endured the cross. That is love. That is the love that provides a direct conduit from our hearts to the heart of God.
When we pray today, we will do so in the name of Jesus. When we pray today, in the name of Jesus, may we recognize that any such prayer is empty unless it is driven by genuine love for God the Father, Son, and Spirit.
In the name of Jesus…what a wonderful way to say, “I love you!”
Also, praying in the name of Jesus provides the love connection that makes our heart right as we come to the Father in prayer. There is power, and it is a power fused with love.
Vern