O GOD, from whom all good things do come; grant to us Thy humble servants, that by Thy holy inspiration we may think those things that be right, and by Thy merciful guiding may perform the same; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen

--Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church

“And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. “These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God. I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.”

His disciples said to Him, “See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech! Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God.”

_--John 16.23-30 (NKJV)

Praying in Jesus' name is much more than simply tacking the phrase 'in Jesus' name' mechanically on the end of our prayers. In fact, I think such a simplistic and unthinking approach to prayer has nothing at all to do with actually praying in the name of Jesus. Instead, it treats prayer like an incantation and God like a genie who is bound to do our bidding. True Christian prayer is nothing of the sort. Praying in Jesus' name is praying as a baptized child of God. No one but one marked in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit should have any confidence that his prayers will be answered. If they are, it is only out of God's abundant mercy. Prayer in Jesus' name is earnestly seeking the good and perfect will of God instead of our own self-centered desire. Praying in Jesus' name is making humble but bold requests of the Father, knowing that of our own merits we deserve nothing from God but knowing also that through Christ's perfect righteousness our prayers are heard and answered. Thanks be to God for his great mercy!

Lord, Teach Us How to Pray Aright (James Montgomery)

Lord, teach us how to pray aright,
With reverence and with fear:
Though dust and ashes in Thy sight,
We may, we must, draw near.

Burdened with guilt, convinced of sin,
In weakness, want, and woe,
Fightings without and fears within,
Lord, whither shall we go?

God of all grace, we come to Thee
With broken, contrite hearts;
Give, what Thine eye delights to see,
Truth in the inward parts.

Give deep humility; the sense
Of godly sorrow give;
A strong desire, with confidence,
To hear Thy voice and live:

Faith in the only Sacrifice
That can for sin atone;
To cast our hopes, to fix our eyes,
On Christ, on Christ alone:

Give these, and then Thy will be done.
Thus strengthened with all might,
We, through Thy Spirit and Thy Son,
Shall pray, and pray aright.

Photo by Timothy Eberly on Unsplash