“In Jesus name, Amen.”
I listened to my son close his prayer at dinner and I was irked. Not at him, but at myself.
I was the one who taught him to pray that way.
What’s wrong with saying “in Jesus name”? you might ask.
Well, nothing in and of itself. But I realized that I, my family, and pretty much every Christian I know closes prayers in this way, and I can almost guarantee that the majority of us don’t even think about it as we’re saying it. It’s become a rote prayer. It’s become a way to keep our prayer in it’s pretty little box and make sure we’re good with the “big man upstairs.”
So, I want to say: Stop praying in Jesus’ Name.
Not because it’s wrong, but because we should be thinking about what it is we’re saying.
I grew up for a chunk of my childhood in the Mormon church. I have to say, I love the people of the Mormon church. I think they are often a true example of how we should all be living our lives–sacrificially for others. But every. single. prayer ends in “In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.” From the little 3 year old all the way up to the old man who can barely speak, that little phrase is tacked on to the end of each prayer.
Now before you get all in a huffy because I’m picking on Mormons, I’m not. Like I said, I love Mormons. In fact, most of my immediate family is Mormon. And I’m not just calling them out. I’m calling out anyone who prays a rote prayer without really thinking about who they’re talking to.
Too often, we pray out of duty or compulsion or habit. We pray before we eat because “that’s what we do” or we pray with our kids at night because that’s what a “good” parent does. But why do we end it “in Jesus name”?
The Bible tells us how to pray in Matthew 6:9-13, “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation,[a] but deliver us from the evil one.[b]’ (Source) That’s it.
Nowhere in the new testament does it say to close every prayer “in Jesus name.”
Now, the Bible does say to ask for things “in His name,” so what’s the difference? (See John 14:14)
The difference, friends, is this: we need to pray in the authority of Jesus’ name. This is equivalent to saying “on His account,” or “for his sake.” If a man who has money in a bank authorizes us to withdraw it, we are said to do it in his name. (Source) “The name of someone, in the sense that the Bible authors used it, was what the person stood for, the substance of their character, or their authority.” (Source) We should be starting our prayers “in Jesus name,” if anything, but we probably shouldn’t even use that term. Instead, it would be better to pray something like this: “Father, I come before you, not in my own power, not in my own righteousness, not in my own capability. I come before you in the authority of Jesus, your Son, who gave me access in this faith in which I stand because of His blood. I come on the merits of Jesus, not on my own merits.” (Source)
This morning, our kids and I were praying together for “Prayer Warrior Monday,” where we pray for those who have submitted requests to my blog’s Facebook page. I stopped them even before we started and told them just what I told you: that praying in Jesus’ name is not necessarily for closing out a prayer. Praying in Jesus’ name is calling out his authority in our lives, praising Him in prayer, acknowledging that He is Lord, he is Abba Father, and is truth and goodness. The difference in their prayers was amazing. They had to actually think about their prayers instead of just having an unemotional conversation with God.
Let’s stop praying our scripted, memorized prayers. Let’s start ending our prayers however we are led by the Spirit. Let’s think about what we’re saying, and to who we’re saying it. Or if you are going to pray “in Jesus’ name”…make sure you mean it. God is after our hearts, not our words.
PS–I’m calling out myself here just as much as anyone else.
Sarah Malone says
Wow, I had NEVER even thought of that. I feel a little convicted right now. lol
Joanne Fernandes says
Finding this article has been a Godsend for me & reading it eased my mind as I found answers & insights to questions I’ve been pondering for some time! Let me prevent any potential misunderstanding; when I refer to it as a Godsend, I mean I truly believe that the Holy Spirit literally guided me to the article. Being mindful of whom you’re speaking to & what you truly want to say is a communication tool that the world could put to use more effectively in all matters, but in matters of prayer, there’s no point in rote prayer. I don’t mean because nobody can hear what’s said between God & His children during private prayer time. I say there’s no point because regardless of what we say to the Lord in prayer, the Holy Spirit knows absolutely everything of what’s in our hearts & souls; far more intimately than we know ourselves. That’s the heart of my dilemma! I’ve felt so guilty for not following the rules of academic religion that it has been affecting the quality of my quietude as I prepare to turn to Bible studies & times spent in true prayer. The pressure to follow the rules of the religion I was raised in sits on my back like a little monkey, whispering in my ear that I’m wasting my time & making a mockery of my family faith as I do my best to ignore it & move forward with my studies & prayers. I developed a friendship with a woman whom I met in a Facebook group when we started private messaging outside the group regarding our shared issues & she’s become so much more than a friend; she’s the first/only woman to have referred to me as her “Sister in Christ”. She’s been my mentor, coach & advisor as she’s helped me understand my former religion & begin to navigate my walk with Jesus more effectively; honestly. I’ll be sending this article to her today; I have no doubt she’ll appreciate it as much as I do.
God Bless you, Sarah Malone; thank you!
Elida says
I do see what you mean, but when we you say that we, in general, end our prayers in Jesus name without really thinking about it’s true meaning, I would have to disagree with you because I personally understand that there is power when we pray and when we ask in the name of Jesus. It is also according to His Will (God’s Will).
Jodi M. says
Interesting perspective. I think it would be beneficial for anyone who prays to read this and think about how they are praying. Sharing!
Mark H. says
Amen.
Alicia Arango says
I love what you are getting at here. I think as Christians sometimes we just do things out of habit and formality. But in this case I think there might be a little more to it. First, in Matthew Chapter 6 when Jesus is teaching his disciples to pray, he was never going to say In my own name. Not only because he didn’t have too since he was Jesus but because the Name of “Jesus Christ” (which is above all names) hadn’t been established yet. it isn’t until after the gospels and because of the sacrifice that Jesus made that it was established. There is power in the name of Jesus. We should use it to close out prayers not out of habit or formality but because there’s power in it!
Kati K says
Thank you for this post! I was just thinking about this same topic last night. The kids were saying their prayers before bed and it just sounded so…robotic! I don’t want their conversations with God to be so unfeeling. Thanks for the kick in the rear I needed to open up this topic of discussion with my girls.
Amber says
You had me worried there for a minute! lol
I thought you wrapped it up beautifully–my favorite line: “God is after our hearts, not our words.” Preach it sista!
Monica says
Thank you for this!
Eve says
Alicia, I agree with you. There is power in his name. I don’t just use his name to end prayer but whenever I feel afraid, tempted, or a day is just so beautiful I have to praise him. I think our only power is to call on him for everything. I t.hink his name is not used enough but I do understand where the original poster is coming from. We must be mindful and in the moment when we use it. : )
Becky Angood says
Hi. I just found this article in Pinterest. How can this be shared on Facebook. Thanks so much. I love this interesting perspective!
Life Made Full says
Hi, Becky! At the bottom of the post is a “share it” button for Facebook, Twitter, etc. You just click on the Facebook icon! Let me know if you have any problems!
Lisa says
I have to respectfully disagree with your post. The reason why we pray “in Jesus’ name” is because He is our “interceder”. The bible says the only way to get to the Father is through the Son-hence the reason why we should pray that way. It ensures that the Father hears our prayers. I teach my children to talk to God like they are having a conversation but to always end with “in Jesus’ name”. Nothing formal but every bit as effective.
samuel singer says
you are partly right, pleas
the name of jesus people use is because of the absolute authority in it,even paul in some places used( in the name of jesus) to perform miracles
BERNARDINO C. MORALES says
I practice it using IN JESUS’ NAME not as a rote prayer as Ms. Shanti Landon supposes. I mean it from my heart. YOU CAN NOT STOP ME FROM DOING RIGHT.