Joy in His Name

Have you ever asked God for something, knowing that there just wasn’t any possible way for your desire to become reality unless God did it? In my own experience, I’ve been privileged to see incredible answers to prayer. I’ve seen healing from a doctor’s diagnosis that my wife and I wouldn’t be able to have children (we have three). I’ve seen disaster looming, knowing that only God could intervene to bring us through, and rejoiced as He’s done exactly that. I’ve seen people come to know Christ when everyone said they were too far gone, too deeply mired in sin. I’ve seen people twisted up inside from years of bondage and bitterness literally dance for joy as God set them free by the sweet touch of His Holy Spirit.

God answers prayer—never doubt it! And when we pray in the Name of Jesus, that is, in accord with His will and His character, miracles begin to happen. Sometimes, people tack on the words, “in the Name of Jesus,” to their prayers as if it’s some kind of magic formula to get what we want from our celestial Santa Claus. That’s not what praying in His Name means at all. And there’s no doubt that God is wise enough and knows His plans for us and others well enough not to always answer our prayers in the way we want Him to, no matter how sincere or selfless our prayers may seem. Still, He knows what we need, and every time He answers our prayers in an impossible situation, joy flows through us like a river and God gets the glory.

Prayer in the Name of Jesus is an incredible path to joy, but not only because God answers our prayers. Prayer puts us in the presence of God, something that’s only possible through the blood-bought access and authority Jesus provides as our Lord and Savior; it’s only by coming in His Name that we are granted this incredible privilege. Prayer is also how we get to know God more deeply and grow in our relationship with Him—practically the definition of joy!

His Name brings joy in ways I can’t even communicate. When I simply say, “Jesus,” and call upon Him, with literally just the mention of His Name, things begin to change… I begin to change. I don’t really understand how, I just know it brings Him near to me, and as we’ve said, where He is, joy is!