Praying in the Name of Christ

I reflected a lot on prayer this past week, and as I did my scripture study in the New Testament I read 1 John 5:14, which states:

“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us”

Two questions in particular came to mind as I read the above passage: Why do so many prayers seem to go unanswered? Why do we pray in the name of Christ?

The specificity of this verse really caught my attention in regards to my two questions. I feel we often read throughout the scriptures the promise that if we “ask... it shall be given” to us (Matthew 7:7). Although this promise holds true, there have been times where I, like so many, have felt as if it weren’t. How many times have I felt like my prayers were unanswered? In this moment a statement about prayer came to mind that can be found under “Prayer” in the Bible Dictionary.

“We pray in Christ’s name when our mind is the mind of Christ, and our wishes the wishes of Christ—when His words abide in us… Many prayers remain unanswered because they are not in Christ’s name at all; they in no way represent His mind but spring out of the selfishness of man’s heart.”

It was then that I realized something: My prayers are not just meant to be my own. My prayers should be a reflection of Christ's prayers on my behalf. In 1 John 5:14 a specific promise is made, saying that our prayers will always be heard when in line with the Lord’s will.

Praying in Christ’s name made sense to me in that moment. When we pray in the name of Christ, we are telling our Father in Heaven that we are aligning our will with the will of His perfect Son, our Brother. Christ is our advocate with the Father, and when our will is aligned with His, He can plead on our behalf with the Father so that our prayers may be heard and answered.

So, how do we align our will with the will of the Lord? Simply put: we pray to know His will; we strive to do His will; we keep His commandments. Multiple blog posts could be made on the principles in this paragraph alone, but that is not where the focus is meant to be.

In summary, when our prayers become Christ's, we will undoubtedly receive answers to our prayers. I cannot say how or when, but I can promise that they will be answered. The Lord makes no promises He cannot and will not keep, so long as we are worthy.

The Faith of Moses

This week I want to focus on Hebrews 11:24-26 (although the whole chapter is excellent). Here, Paul is speaking to the Hebrews, and relates to them a lesson we can learn from the example of the prophet Moses. It is a marvelous passage on the power of faith, its importance, and the consequences that come as a result of faith (or lack thereof).

In Hebrews 11:24-26 Paul states:

“By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.”

What a powerful passage! There are many reasons I love this passage, but I want to focus on just a few right now:

Moses was a phenomenal example of what true faith is. True faith is centered in Jesus Christ, Who is the only way to salvation. So, in what ways did Moses put his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ?

Moses gave up his life as an Egyptian, which strained his relationship with his (adopted) family, and in some ways destroyed it. He rejected the Pharaoh as his kin by refusing “to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.” He did so when realizing who he truly was, a Jew, those enslaved by the Egyptian people. Having to reject the family that raised you sounds unimaginably difficult to me, and I am sure was not easy for Moses. So, why did Moses do it? I may not have every reason why, but there is one thing I know: He had a conviction of the Lord and trust in His promises. He had faith.

Although a difficult journey, Moses cared more about what Christ thought, rather than his fellow men. He knew that the riches of Christ were greater than any treasures Egypt could offer. Rather than bask in the “pleasures of sin,” Moses chose “to suffer affliction with the people of God,” his people.

Who would choose suffering and affliction over enjoyment and pleasure? Those with true faith in God. Those with an eternal perspective and understanding of the Lord and His plan of happiness for us, His children. Moses knew that suffering through affliction in righteousness was a temporal means that brings about eternal rewards, whereas enjoying temporal riches, or the “pleasures of sin,” brings about eternal damnation (separation from God).

When put in that perspective, it is a no-brainer which one I would choose! Of course I want the eternal rewards, rather than eternal damnation, right? If I know this, then why on earth do I sin and make mistakes every single day? It’s because I am imperfect. I succumb to temptation, and much of my sufferings and trials comes through my imperfections. This does not mean I should justify sin, but rather acknowledge that It is through my imperfections that I am perfected, which perfection only comes through Jesus Christ.

Moses was by no means perfect, but he is a phenomenal example of faith because he tried, changed, and was bettered (through the Lord). He learned to trust in the Lord, and helped others to do the same. Moses repented, and relied on Christ to not only make up the difference in his life, but make all the difference in his life.

It is only through Christ that we receive eternal rewards: the gift of salvation, and the opportunity to receive exaltation (to live in God’s presence, become as He is, and receive a fullness of joy). I truly believe Paul used the example of Moses to encourage the Hebrews (Moses's people!) to be better and know that anything is possible to those who believe on the name of Jesus Christ.

It is far better to swim in deep water (the road to eternal rewards), rather than shallow (the road to eternal damnation).

So, my question this week is: How can I better exercise faith in Jesus Christ, and put my trust in Him?

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” - Hebrews 11:1