Almost every Christian ends his or her prayer by saying some variation on “In Jesus’ name, amen.” But do we understand why we say it? At worst it can something akin to a magic formula that makes the prayer “work.” But what happens if we don’t say it? Well, nothing really. There’s no direct command to say those exact words in every prayer. In fact, it can even be helpful in praying with a group if only the last person says it; then, the rest of the prayers feel more organically connected as one prayer. On the other hand, it’s not wrong to use those words at the end of our prayers.
What is most important, though, is understanding why praying in Jesus is important. What does it actually mean to pray “in Jesus’ name”? And how does it encourage us in prayer?
It Encourages Prayerfulness
Jesus is the one who said we ought to ask for things “in his name” when we pray. He said, Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it (John 14:13–14).
And again, he said, In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full (John 16:23–24).
There is much more that could be said about these verses. But the simple point I want to make first is this: Jesus wants us to pray! He gives such promises about answering our prayers because he doesn’t want us to be strangers before our Father. He knows the kindness and generosity of the Father from the answers to his own prayers. And he wants us to know the same. Jesus wants his disciples to pray often.
It Encourages Kingdom-Mindedness
Notice the goal of praying in Jesus’ name. In John 15 he said: You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you (John 15:16).
Jesus wants his disciples to bear much fruit that abides. How can this happen? By praying to God and asking for what we need to bear it. But, notice what this does. It forces us to rethink what we’re praying for when we go to God. We are meant to be praying in Jesus’ name—asking for the things he would want us to ask for; things that honor him. We are praying for things that would help us bear spiritual fruit for his kingdom, not ours. That kind of thinking should cause us to consider carefully what makes up the bulk of prayers.
It Encourages Confidence
Finally, we pray in Jesus’ name because we are accepted in him. Our intimate access to the Father and fellowship with his Spirit is connected to our union with the risen Christ (Eph 1:3–14). We are “in him” and he is “in us.” And Hebrews says that this union with Jesus by faith gives us confidence before the Father in prayer (Heb 4:16; 10:19). We don’t need to worry that God will not listen. He will listen to us because he listened to Jesus (Heb 5:7)!
So, we may be saying, “in Jesus’ name” when we pray, but are we really praying in Jesus’ name? Are constantly at the throne of God, asking for grace to bear fruit of Christ’s kingdom, with confidence—not in our performance but the righteousness of Christ for us?
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