"In Jesus' name, Amen"

...more excerpt from "Gowing in Faith"

“In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Did you ever stop to think what these words with which we routinely close our prayers mean? What is praying ‘in Jesus’ name’?
I simply do not have a glib answer for this question, but at the very least it merits thoughtful reflection. The reason for the universal practice of closing our prayers “In Jesus’ name. Amen” probably comes from the promise in John 14:13,14, the words of Jesus: “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” What can this possibly mean? One thing I am sure, this is not a promise either to be taken lightly, nor to be used in any way that does not honor God.
To pray in Jesus’ name, then, obviously means more than simply tacking on a signature to a check we have filled out. In the very next chapter Jesus seems to amplify this same promise, in John 15:7,8 when he said “If you abide in me and my words abide in you, you will ask what you desire and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so will be my disciples.” Evidently to pray in Jesus’ name means being on the same page with Him in what we really want to see happen.
But after we have explained more than we can ever know, there it is: the stark enormity of that promise: “whatever you ask in My name, that I will do!” I am happy to write about spiritual formation, and try to practice what I preach, but here is a source of power I know I have scarcely tapped. I can only say ‘Come along with me and dare to ask to bear MUCH fruit!’ The prayer to bear MUCH fruit is a prayer Jesus has promised to answer if we pray in order to glorify the Father, and if we let God decide what “MUCH” means. Perhaps the most fruitful people in God’s sight are not as we might think.