03/08/2026
“A pen name, or nom-de-plume, is a pseudonym adopted by an author and printed on the title page or by-line of their works in place of their real name.” - wikipedia
Our prayers are not powerless. When we enter into them we are not alone, but are joined there by the Holy Spirt, and Jesus Christ. When we don’t know how to pray the Holy Spirit will pray for us, and as we pray in the name of Jesus Christ it gives Him joint authorship with us in that prayer. Suddenly, what might have been a knee shaking event as we stood alone before the throne of God, has become less frightening and we are more certain that our prayers are being heard. So, I ask you this, are you alone before God in your prayers or coming before Him with the help of the Spirit and in the name of Jesus?
“"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me [Jesus].
"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me [Jesus] will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”
John 14:1, 12-14 ESV
When we pray in the name of Jesus we are using His authority and power to place our prayer before God. Even more than that, we are asking Him to do the things we are praying for so that God Himself might be glorified by them.
I am a writer, and I am inspired when a thought pops into my mind. I am going to ask you one simple question... who wrote the book “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer?” If you answered that question by saying, “Mark Twain”, then you are correct, and if you answered “Samuel Langhorne Clemens” then you were also right. Samuel Clemens wrote using the pen name Mark Twain. Samuel did this for anonymity, and so that if his book was ridiculed he would remain separate and unblemished by it. As a matter of fact, he wrote under several pen names during his life, including such monikers as Thomas Jefferson Snodgrass, and Sergeant Fathom.
However, when we pray in the name of Jesus Christ it is quite different, we are not seeking anonymity, we are taking on the name and authority of the most established Spiritual Leader and teacher ever known; the Son of God Himself. We are asking Him to intercede for us and to place His High Name alongside ours, upon our unworthy document, life, or prayer. The amazing thing is that Jesus says He is willing to do this because it will glorify His Father when He does so... it is not for His own glory, but His Father’s alone. Is this because of us, or anything we have done? No... Jesus does this for us because by doing this HE is bringing glory to God. It is the ultimate act of love; it is the honor and glory that we see as coming from His philanthropy. Jesus is serving us the chowder of His faith in the soup kitchen of God. By His intercession the price for our meal has been paid in full, and our hands are washed much like the feet of His disciples… with His hands and the living water He provides.
Yes, by His providing for us and allowing us to pray in His name Jesus glorifies God and makes us blameless. We read this again in the book of Philippians
“so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”
Philippians 1:10-11 ESV
So, suddenly, the prayers spoken by us, by believers who stumble over their own words, or don’t know how to pray at all, have taken on heavenly proportion and authority. Quite suddenly the John and Jane Doe figures of the world have donned the mantle of Jesus Christ the Son of God and their prayers have assumed the full power of Christ. For our part we must simply offer Him our thanks...
“The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!"”
Psalms 50:23 ESV
So, when we pray today let’s remember to give thanks and never lose sight of the fact that our prayers carry power and authority with them, and are hand delivered by Jesus Christ himself to the throne of God.
Prayer:
Thank you Father for hearing my prayers and thank you for your Son Jesus Christ in whose name I pray, and who graciously signs and delivers my supplication to you. Thank you for your provision in my day-to-day life as I pray for sustenance and various other desires. I praise your name Holy Father, as I seek to glorify you in everything I say and do. Help me to perfect my prayers through your Holy Spirit, and as I live my life in the name of Jesus Christ my redeemer I pray also that I become righteous and you are glorified. In all things let me represent you well so that I will always bring honor and glory to your house. Great is your name Holy Father, and Great is the name of Jesus Christ your Son. I pray and praise you in His name so that I will be made righteous in Him and you will be honored forever more. I pray this prayer today in the name of Jesus and ask that all Glory be yours now and forevermore!!!
Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God… Hallelujah!
Amen!
Rich Forbes