Ask the Father in My Name
Month 10: The Upper Room · Walking in the Spirit
Today's Scripture
Read together: John 16:23-24 & John 14:13-14
23 In that day you will no longer ask Me anything. Truly, truly, I tell you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete. — John 16:23-24
13 And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask Me for anything in My name, I will do it. — John 14:13-14
Memory Verse
“I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!””— John 16:33 (BSB)
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Mark 5-8
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Jesus calms storms, heals, feeds thousands, and shows He is Lord over wind, sickness, and bread.)The Heart of It
Jesus opens a brand-new door for His friends. "Whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you" (). As we'll see, that promise is shaped by His name and His will. Because of the cross that was coming, His people could now come straight to God the Father. Not from far away, but up close, as His beloved children. "Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full," He says. Walking in the Spirit isn't a tense, silent life where we just hope God is listening. It's a life of talking with our Father, freely and often, expecting Him to answer, because Jesus opened the way.
But notice the little phrase "in My name." That's not a magic word we tack onto the end of a prayer to get whatever we want. To pray "in Jesus' name" means we come on His authority, trusting His finished work. And it means we ask for the kinds of things Jesus Himself would ask for. As we walk in the Spirit, our wants slowly start to line up with God's heart. So our prayers do too (). God still answers like a wise, loving Father. Sometimes He says "yes." Sometimes "no." Sometimes "wait." He is not a vending machine. But He has flung the door wide open. The Spirit even helps us pray when we don't know the words (). So we don't have to earn a hearing. We just come, in Jesus' name, and our Father is glad to listen.
Around the Table
Jesus made a way for us to talk to God anytime! We end our prayers "in Jesus' name" because He opened the door.
Let's do it: Whisper one thing you want to ask God, then pray it together "in Jesus' name."
Praying "in Jesus' name" isn't a magic word. What do you think it really means?
Let's talk: How is asking God different from asking a vending machine that has to give you whatever you push?
To pray in Jesus' name is to pray on His authority and in line with His will. And the Spirit reshapes our wants, so we start asking for the right things.
Let's go deeper: When God answers "no" or "wait," why is that actually a sign of a good Father, and not a Father who ignores us?
💬 Conversation Starter
What's one big thing you'd love to ask God for right now? Let's pray for it together — and watch over time how He answers.
🛡️ Defending the Faith
"Ask and you will receive" is sometimes twisted into a promise that God must grant any wish. But Jesus framed it "in My name" and tied it to the Father's heart. And spells out the condition. We ask "anything according to His will." Honest faith expects a loving Father's wise answer. It does not expect a genie's blank check.
For Dad · Go Deeper
This is a key text against two errors at once. It tears down the prosperity "name it and claim it" distortion. "In My name" is about Christ's authority and the Father's will. It is not a formula for getting our way. And it tears down a cold, distant view of God. The access is real, close, and joyful. It is "that your joy may be full." Teach your children a Spirit-empowered prayer life that is both bold and surrendered. Bold to ask anything. Surrendered to trust the Father's answer. Let them hear you pray honestly for big things. And let them hear you thank God when the answer is "no" or "wait." Then they will learn an important truth. Not getting what we wanted is not the same as not being loved.
Draws on: D. A. Carson, Praying with Paul; Gordon Fee, God's Empowering Presence.
Let's Pray Together
"Father, thank You that Jesus opened the way for us to come to You anytime. Teach us to ask boldly and trust You fully. Make our wants like Your heart, and fill our joy. In Jesus' name, amen."
In Jesus' name, the door to my Father is wide open. I can ask Him boldly and trust His loving answer.