Stop Praying “In Jesus’ Name, Amen”?

In my experience it is common, even traditional, in English and in Japanese to end prayers with, “in Jesus’ name, Amen.” However, have you ever been in a church meeting or Bible study when someone prays from the heart but doesn’t end with “in Jesus’ name Amen”? Some might gasp in astonishment. Though sincere, we might think the pray-er doesn’t know how to pray. Or maybe we think, “Didn’t anyone teach them how to pray properly?”

Two Questions

Is this traditional three-word prayer ending really what Jesus meant when He told His disciples to ask and pray “in My name”? If not, what do we need to know and do to pray as He asked?

The Scriptures

• John 14:13-14: “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it” (NASB). God has promised to answer and do the things we pray in Jesus’ name and the purpose of praying in Jesus’ name is to glorify the Father.
• John 15:16: “You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.” He chose us so that we would be fruitful as we pray in His name.
• John 16:23-24: “Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.” We experience full joy when we pray in His name.

So, is this “carte blanche?” Was Jesus saying, “Pray anything you want—just put these three words at the end and you’ll have it”? Does tacking these three words onto the end of our prayers guarantee fruit . . . joy . . . glory to the Father? No, it is clear that prayer is not just about the three words we so often unthinkingly add.

What Does It Mean?

To understand better, we could consider what other things we are to do in His name. Jesus tells us to gather “in My name” (Matthew 18:2), receive a child “in My name” (Mark 9:37), give a cup of cold water “in My name” (Mark 9:41). We are told that we become children of God when we believe “in His name” (John 1:12) and that by believing we “have life in His name” (John 20:31).

We can see Jesus means far more than our three-word benediction. In both Testaments, to do something in the “name” of God, or another person, was to do it just as that person would do it, and in a way that honors the reputation of that person.

Therefore, we are to gather in a way that honors Christ. We are to receive children and give a cup of cold water in the very spirit and heart that He would. To become a child of God, by believing in His name, is done with total faith in His character, His work, and His words.

Praying in Jesus’ Name

So, what did Jesus have in mind when he told us to pray “in His name”? He really meant that we should pray in accordance with His character. Pray just as He would pray, to honor His reputation and purposes in this world. So how can we do that more effectively?

His Pattern for Prayer

When His disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray (Luke 11:1-4), He taught them the same pattern He gave in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:9-13). This was his clear teaching about how we can practically and truly pray “in His name.” We do so by praising God for who He is, responding to His attributes, making requests based on His will, then thanking and praising Him once more. If we do not follow these principles, we can add anything we want at the end of our prayers, but we are not praying “in Jesus’ name.”

That’s why our prayers should be worship-based prayer, not a grocery list telling Jesus what we think He should do to make our lives happy and problem-free. Truly praying “in Jesus’ name” as He instructed fulfills the promises He made about prayer. And, it transforms us into His image.

In Conclusion

So, the next time you pray, think about really praying in His name. And maybe, to get your point across, don’t use those three words before the “Amen.” Instead, pray something like: “For your glory, in honor of your purposes, and according to Your will I pray . . . Amen.” I wonder how people will respond!