“We never know how God will answer our prayers, but we can expect that He will get us involved in His plan for the answer. If we are true intercessors, we must be ready to take part in God’s work on behalf of the people for whom we pray.” ― Corrie ten Boom

 

“Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (John 14:13, NASB95)

 

“We impoverish God in our minds when we say there must be answers to our prayers on the material plane; the biggest answers to our prayers are in the realm of the unseen.” – Oswald Chambers

 

We should never forget or be so arrogant that we think our prayer is bending God towards our will. Prayer work is God’s work. In the context of Jesus’ statement, “whatever you ask in My name, that will I do…” Jesus is not giving you a spiritual credit card to spend upon your own material desires. The name of Jesus is not some magical incantation to access the power of the all mighty for your own personal satisfaction. What does Jesus mean, “my name?”

 

The name of Jesus is the whole revelation, work and authority of Jesus. Augustine once said, “Effective prayer must be consistent with the person, the work and the character of Jesus.” What was the work of Jesus? The work of Jesus is to glorify the Father. When we pray along these lines we can have confidence that our prayers will be answered. Therefore, may we confidently shape our prayers according to the work and character of Jesus that God the Father may be glorified in the outcome. I believe that when people begin to pray this way, they will experience answered prayer.