Magnificent Prayer #18
Magnificent Prayer #18
You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
John 14:14
To pray in Christ’s name is not to use His name as a good luck charm or talisman, as though the repetition of it were all that’s required to open the treasures of infinite grace. Let us not degrade this dearest promise of our Lord into such a superstition as that.
The Jewish cabalists believed that the pronunciation of certain magical words engraved on the seal of Solomon would perform miracles. That was incantation. And we in like manner make Christian incantation of this blessed privilege of the Gospel if we put such an interpretation as this upon Christ’s words.
The name of Christ stands for Christ Himself. And to pray in the name of Christ is to pray in Christ, in the mind and spirit and will of Christ.
A. J. GORDON
Pray About It: Most of us have been guilty of simply tacking “in Jesus’ name” at the end of our prayers, hoping that by so doing it gave our requests that extra bounce into heaven. But praying in Christ’s name is more about the living Christ Himself than uttering syllables. We can pray in Christ’s name without words. And we can pray the words “in Christ’s name” and still be far from Him.
Today, truly pray in Christ’s name by doing so in the mind, will, and spirit of our Lord.
To ask in His name means to be taken by the hand and led to prayer by Him. It means His kneeling by our side and His desires flowing through our heart.
SAMUEL RIDOUT
From the book
