Two-minute read.
At the end of my prayers, I type five letters: IJNIP. The abbreviation represents “In Jesus’ Name I Pray.” From my earliest memories, my mother taught me to pray this way, though I did not understand why until I became an adult. Speaking to His disciples, Jesus tells them that after His resurrection, they will experience profound joy as they come to understand the truth of His teachings. Now, through Christ, they can ask God anything and He will answer their prayers.
Knowing God will answer our prayers if we ask in Jesus’ name gives us joy. Our faith gives us confidence that the Lord will provide whatever we ask. When we pray in Jesus’s name, we use His authority, according to His will, not just to get what we want. In other words, when we align our hearts with the Savior, His desires become our desires, and we ask for things He wants.
I hate to burst your bubble, but a new car, fancy house, or bright clothing doesn’t necessarily align with Jesus’s heart. The Savior never drove a car, lived in a fancy house, or wore expensive clothing. God’s Son didn’t have electricity and running water when He resided on the Earth. A carpenter by trade, Jesus didn’t work with power tools; He worked with His bare hands, transforming wood into valuable items such as tables and chairs.
Jesus desires for everyone to know Him and the saving grace He offers. Connecting people to His Father matters most to the Savior. Praying for lost souls to give their hearts to Christ pleases the Lord. Desiring for God’s family to grow and heaven to become crowded brings joy to the Father. Jesus’s joy transcends to us when we align our hearts with His, asking for His desires, not ours.
Align your heart with Jesus, and allow His joy to overflow in you.
Journal Questions:
How has aligning your heart with Jesus changed your perspective?
How does praying in Jesus’ name empower your prayers?
What desire of Christ’s heart do you need to align your heart with today?
Joyful Application:
Experience the joy of Christ by aligning your heart with His
