Today

let’s focus on what it means to ask within God’s will. We’ll

look at some important ways this affects not only what

we ask for but also how

we ask—and all this connects with asking in the name of Jesus.

First,

Jesus taught, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one

comes to the Father except through me,” and “Whatever you ask in

my name, the Father will give you” (John 14:6; 15:16). This means

that by recognizing Jesus’ authority as the Son of God, we can pray

in his name and have access to God the Father almighty. Jesus, who

died for our sins in order to reconcile us with God (Rom. 5:6-11), is

the only reason we have access to the Father in prayer.

Second,

our prayers are based on what Jesus has done for us, not on anything

we have done. Jesus’ name identifies him as the one who saved “his

people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). So to ask in the name of

Jesus is to acknowledge that Jesus is our Savior, who always

intercedes for us (see Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25).

Finally,

in everything he did, Jesus wanted to do God’s will and bring him

glory (John 6:38-40; 12:26-28). Jesus’ example is the pattern for

everything we do. So asking in Jesus’ name means we want to do

God’s will and to glorify God (see John 14:13). And to these

requests God will always say yes.