“in JESUS’ name, I pray . . . . ”

How many times have we prayed?

How many times have we prayed without thinking?

How many times have we prayed without really thinking?

How many times?

“In JESUS’ name, I pray. . . .”

I wonder sometimes, do we really value prayer?

I wonder sometimes, do we really realize what it means to pray IN JESUS’ NAME.

IN JESUS’ NAME. . . . I PRAY FOR THESE THINGS.

Often, we say, God can do anything, and He can.

Often, we pray, “in Jesus’ name” and then go about our day, forgetful.

Often, we live, as if our power is the most important “power” within this world.

Oftentimes, we are wrong!!!!

In the Bible, the disciples (the men who left EVERYTHING in order to follow JESUS), saw Jesus praying, looked at Jesus one day and said, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.”

“And He said to them [Jesus said to His disciples—Jesus says to us, who profess Jesus as Savior], “When you pray, say: [When we pray for these things] . . .” (Luke 11: 1-2)

1. PRAY—IN THANKFULNESS FOR OUR GREAT GOD, FOR HIS KINGDOM! (LUKE 11: 2)
2. PRAY—FOR THIS DAY THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US TO LIVE! (LUKE 11: 3)
3. PRAY—THANKING GOD FOR HIS MANY PROVISIONS! (LUKE 11: 3)
4. PRAY—FOR GOD’S FORGIVENESS OF OUR SINS—YES, SO MANY SINS! (LUKE 11: 4)
5. PRAY—FOR GOD’S HELP TO FORGIVE OTHERS—FOR ALL THE WAYS WE FEEL WE HAVE BEEN OFFENDED OR ARE INDEBTED! (LUKE 11: 4)
6. PRAY—FOR GUIDANCE ONLY GOD CAN PROVIDE, TO NOT BE LED INTO TEMPTATION BEYOND OUR STRENGTH! (LUKE 11: 4)

THEN JESUS SAID (to His disciples, & to us: to you & to me)

“Suppose one of you has a friend, and goes to him at midnight  and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves;

for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’;

And from inside he answers and says, ‘Do not bother me;  the door has already been shut and my children and I are in the bed;  I cannot get up and give you anything.’

I tell you [Jesus told his disciples & Jesus tells us], even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up, and will give him as much as he needs.”

(Luke 11: 5-8)

IN JESUS’ NAME. . . . I PRAY FOR THESE THINGS.

What are we praying for today?

What have we been praying for over the last week?

What have we been praying for that has been asked of us?

What have we been praying for . . . that we think God has tired of and what we should stop praying for—because surely God is tired of our words—just as we are tired of praying?

What do we need to lift up to God today & pray in JESUS’ name?

How much do we trust JESUS?

How much do we believe in the power of JESUS?

How strong is our faith . . . even when we are tired?

How strong is our faith . . . even when we think, “surely God is tired of our specific prayer request?”

HOW MUCH DO WE REALLY TRUST GOD?!!!

HOW MUCH DO WE REALLY PRAY, “IN JESUS’ NAME,” AND THEN LIFT OUR VOICES & HANDS AS WE PRAISE GOD FOR OUR SAVIOR, JESUS, & FOR OUR SALVATION?!!!!!!!!

IN JESUS’ NAME. . . . I PRAY FOR THIS ONE THING . . TODAY.

IN JESUS’ NAME. . . . I PRAY FOR THIS ONE THING . . YESTERDAY.

IN JESUS’ NAME. . . . I PRAY FOR THIS ONE THING . . TOMORROW.

IN JESUS’ NAME. . . . I PRAY FOR THIS ONE THING . . UNTIL WE GO HOME TO BE WITH JESUS.

IN JESUS’ NAME. . . . I PRAY FOR THIS ONE THING!

IN JESUS’ NAME!

THERE IS SUCH AMAZING POWER . . . “IN JESUS’ NAME.”

THANK YOU, GOD, FOR JESUS1

THANK YOU, GOD, FOR SENDING YOUR SON, JESUS!

THANK YOU, GOD, FOR SALVATION!

THANK YOU, GOD!

THEN JESUS SAID (to His disciples, & to us: to you & to me)

“So I say to you, ask;  and it will be given to you;  seek, and you will find;  knock, and it will be opened to you.

For everyone who asks, receives;  and he who seeks, finds;  and to him who knocks, it will be opened.”

(Luke 11: 9-10)

We Who Believe, Are The Body of Christ Jesus, & We Pray For—These Things.

1. Our fellow believers.
2. Our foot.
3. Our ear.
4. Our eye.
5. Our members of the body of Christ Jesus!
6. Our head.
7. Our feet.
8. The individual members of our body. (1 Corinthians 12: 12-22)

We are to pray, IN JESUS’ NAME, for ALL members of the body of Christ!

We are to pray, without ceasing—EVERY SINGLE DAY!

WE ARE TO PRAY, “IN JESUS’ NAME.”

WE ARE TO PRAY.

ARE WE PRAYING?

ARE WE PRAYING WITHOUT CEASING?

ARE WE PRAYING, FOR OUR FELLOW BELIEVERS?

ARE WE PRAYING, FOR OTHERS BY NAME?

ARE WE PRAYING, “IN JESUS’ NAME”?

DO WE BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF PRAYER?

DO WE BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF JESUS’ NAME?

DO WE?

DO WE—REALLY—BELIEVE—IN JESUS’ OMNISCIENT POWER?!!!

“Dear Jesus,

Forgive me—for not praying as I should.

Forgive me—for thinking of myself, of my needs first.

Forgive me—for not thinking of my most precious friends You have given to me to love.

Forgive me—for forgetting to pray, to really pray, for them.

Forgive me, Father.

Forgive me.

Lead me to read Your Word more.

Lead me to obey You more.

Lead me to pray more as I trust You.

Lead me to pray without ceasing.

Lead me to pray, IN JESUS’ NAME.

Lead me to trust, You, God.

Lead me to PRAY! Amen.”

“But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked,

So that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.

And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it;  if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.”

(1 Corinthians 12: 24-26)

Let us remember—Whose we are!

Let us remember—to PRAY & TRUST—“in JESUS’ name.”