“Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.” John 16:24
There is fullness of joy in partnering with God. To pray in Jesus name is to pray on behalf of His interests, kind of like the ambassador of a country. An ambassador transacts business for the country they represent with the full backing and authority of the place they were sent from. Jesus has sent us into the world (John 17:18), and He wants us to know that all of heaven is behind us as we seek to honor Him.
In the text above, Jesus tells us where assurance in prayer will come from: using His name. When we pray in our own name we base our confidence on how deserving, or undeserving we feel we are, and that’s usually based on how we’re feeling that day, or on how we have performed recently. This is a recipe for doubt. If I have to achieve a certain spiritual feeling, or live a life that “deserves” God’s blessing, I will never have full assurance in prayer.
But if my access has nothing to do with me, but only about how good Jesus is and how complete His sacrifice was for me on the cross, then it becomes easy to believe. Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I have I give to you, in Jesus name rise up and walk.” (Acts 3:6)
God wants us to possess Jesus’ name and our position in this world as His ambassadors. He wants every one of us to know the joy of partnering with Him every day. We’re called to nothing less!
One Thing 