Tuesday – Colossians 3:17   

“To pray in the name of Christ means to pray in the awareness that our prayers have no worthiness or efficacy apart from his atoning sacrifice and redemptive mediation. It means to appeal to the blood of Christ as the source of power for the life of prayer. It means to acknowledge our complete helplessness apart from his mediation and intercession. To pray in his name means that we recognize that our prayers cannot penetrate … unless they are presented to the Father by the Son, our one Savior and Redeemer.”   — Donald Bloesch

The power of prayer lies in Christ. When we pray “In Jesus’ name,” it’s not just a way to “hang up” on our conversation with God. Praying in Jesus’ name means the basis for God’s answer lies in Jesus’ sacrifice. Further, Richard Foster writes, “To pray in the name of Jesus means that we are praying in accord with the way and nature of Christ. It means we are making the kinds of intercession he would make if he were among us in the flesh.”

Think about your prayer life. Do you pray expectant, powerful prayers? Do you look for answers to your prayers prayed in Jesus’ name? Are you making the kind of intercession Jesus would make?