Week 5

So how did your prayers go this week? Have you really looked at the "why" of your prayers?

What do you want to accomplish when you pray for someone? Is it your own agenda, what you think they should be doing, or have you listened to what God wants for them?

I want to encourage you to read daily in your Bibles. It's like taking medicine every day, if we're not consistent we won't see any progress in our spiritual health. If you are not sure where to begin, try the Book of John or Romans. Take one chapter every morning.

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

You wouldn't walk in to court facing a death penalty with no lawyer or even any knowledge of the law as it pertains to you, would you?

Guard your steps as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil. Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few. For the dream comes through much effort and the voice of a fool through many words. Ecclesiastes 5:1-3

As you pray for someone, use the scripture that God gave you that day. If it pertains to them, build the prayer using that scripture for them.

If God reveals your heart about why you are praying for them, use the scripture that impressed you to build a prayer of confession. Once you remove the "log" from your own eye, then you can proceed to pray to God about the speck in their eye.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way. Psalm 139:23-24

What does it mean to pray "In Jesus' name"?

Asking in Christ's name, is acknowledging our unworthiness to receive any favours from God, and shows full dependence upon Christ as the Lord our Righteousness. MH Commentary

Standing in front of that same death penalty judge with no advocate would be a foolish move. When we pray "in Jesus' name", it is asking God to listen to us the same way He would listen to Jesus. It also lets God know that we acknowledge Jesus is the one who saves us, not ourselves.

"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater {works} than these he will do; because I go to the Father. "Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. "If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do {it.} John 14:12-14

Is it as simple as that? Yes. Is it a way to get what you want? No. It's not a magic formula.

You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend {it} on your pleasures. James 4:3

What's at the heart of your prayer? What's the motivation, what's the "why" of your prayer? God sees your heart and knows why you're praying already. He wants you to see your own heart and take care of anything that could be standing in the way of your prayers. Adding "in Jesus' name" only becomes a habit, an echo.

"In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. "Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full. "These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; an hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but will tell you plainly of the Father. "In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I will request of the Father on your behalf; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father. John 16:23-27

Let's read about Peter, John and the Beggar from Acts 3:1-11. Why did that healing happen?

"And on the basis of faith in His name, {it is} the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which {comes} through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all. Acts 3:16

Even the Pharisees knew something of the power of a name. They knew Proverbs.

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold. Proverbs 22:1

When they had placed them in the center, they {began to} inquire, "By what power, or in what name, have you done this?" Acts 4:7

There is power in the name of Jesus. Let's read about Paul and the slave girl Acts 16:16-18.

so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, Phillipians 2:10

Eventually, every knee will bend at the name of Jesus. Think of the most power man on earth, he too will find himself kneeling. So as we pray, we choose to humble ourselves now--because when Jesus returns there will be no choice.

It's not just prayer that we need to do in Jesus name.

Whatever you do in word or deed, {do} all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. Colossians 3:17

Next time you pray "in Jesus' name", know that you are praying as if Jesus is asking it. If you are praying for something outside the will of God, tacking on "in Jesus' name" does not guarantee anything. In fact, the more you read the Bible and know the will of God, the more your prayers will change so that your prayers will align with the will of God.

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for {those of} the whole world. 1 John 2:1-2

Keep writing in your prayer journals. Log the footsteps God is taking in your life: the joys and sorrows. The answered prayer is especially important to write down. Even if it's "no".