As I was reading in Acts 3 last week about Peter healing the lame beggar, and his message to the onlookers of that miracle, one line of a verse jumped out at me. “By faith in the name of Jesus” (v16). My thoughts went to how I was taught to pray – ending each prayer with the words “In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
This is right and well, the Bible teaches us to ask all things in His name and our prayers will be answered according to God’s will.
But I wondered …. has this become more habit than faith to us? Do we hurry through my prayers, toss an “in Jesus’ name” at the end and go on about our day without another thought? Do we give the appropriate reverence to that request?
Peter said to the crowd, “By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and now was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him…”
When we pray, when we ask in Jesus’ name, we must have faith in Him. We must believe in Him, or that phrase is nothing more than words.
I don’t ever want my prayers to be nothing more than words said out of habit! Prayer is a relationship with God, but a relationship out of habit soon becomes no relationship at all.
My relationship with Christ is the most important relationship in my life, and I never want it to become habitual. I want it to live, to grow – I want my worship to be vibrant and real.
Heavenly Father, work Your will in my life. Continue to remind me of Your love. Continue to guide me, continue to fill my heart with Your Word. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Photo by Lisa Fahrenkrog
From Suffering to Praise 