In His Name

John 16:23-24

I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. . . . Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy. (John 16:23-24)

JESUS PROMISED ANSWERS to prayer, and we often experience them in delightful ways. But sometimes we don’t, and we begin to wonder why. If prayer is our means for bearing fruit that lasts and glorifies God (John 14:13-14; 15:16), and if Jesus was so emphatic about his followers using his name, how do we explain the lack of answers in some seasons of life? Why is he not as responsive as he suggested? Our minds begin to answer these questions in all sorts of ways, many of them self-incriminating: I didn’t have enough faith; I haven’t been living very faithfully. We point the finger at ourselves for falling short of the promise.

Your thoughts about not being worthy, forfeiting the promises, not having enough faith, and so on, are probably all true. You can go ahead and accept the reality. But those accusations, as true as they may be, are not relevant at all. They would be relevant if you were praying in your own name, but you aren’t. You’re praying in Jesus’ name—from his worthiness, his credentials, his status with the Father. His repeated admonitions to use his name in prayer were given to us to take the focus and burden off ourselves. Instead of praying from our own identity, we pray from his. What answers to prayer does the Son deserve? What does he stand to inherit? How much faith does he have in the Father’s wisdom, power, and love? The answers to those questions are all that matter, and they are extremely encouraging. We don’t come to the Father on our own merits; we come on the merits of Jesus. That puts us on very solid footing.

Pray from that identity. You’ll need to align yourself with Jesus’ purposes, of course, but that isn’t difficult. It’s empowering. Pray from the position of the Son, and you will experience his promises in increasing measure.

{Jesus, thank you for the privilege of praying in your name, on your account, and from your identity. Align me with your purposes and bear fruit in my life. Use my prayers to accomplish your will on earth. Amen.