I have been thinking about the phrase we say in prayer. “in the name of Jesus”. Why do we say that and what are we actually saying? So I found all the places in Scripture where it says “in my name”. So I found all the places in Scripture where it says “in my name”. [I can send you this document if you are interested.] So far what I see in the Old Testament, is that the phrase was used with regard to a prophet who was proclaiming something as from the Lord. He was speaking on behalf of God with what he claimed was God’s message. It is not as clear to me what Jesus is saying when he uses the phrase; however, I think it also means we are speaking something as Jesus’ representatives and saying something he would affirm.
There are a few things I believe about it. First, it is not a magical phrase that makes God hear our prayer and answer it favorably. It doesn’t work to pray “in Jesus name” that God give you a Cadillac. Considering what we do know about spiritual prayer, the “in Jesus name” does not refer to the saying of those words, but who we are as a person. We must be living in Jesus’ name when we pray. Then God will provide whatever we ask. So to my thinking the phrase “in my (Jesus’) name” refers to our state of being, not the prayer itself. We must be committed followers of Jesus having been born again and baptized with the Holy Spirit to be living in his name at the time. It also must include our purposes. Are we purposing to be doing the Lord’s will for us when we are praying? Try praying without including the phrase “in Jesus’ name” in your prayer. It has become such a habit that I find it is almost automatic to make that statement at the end of my prayer. So before you pray check to see what is your purpose and does it honor and serve Him? If so, you are probably “in Jesus name” as you pray.