VERILY, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you." Thus did Christ Jesus, humanity's gracious Way-shower, reassure all who will heed his teachings, of the Father's ability and readiness to bestow all good upon those who ask of Him in Christ's name.
Because of the seeming failure of many to receive that for which they have asked, in accordance, as they believed, with this promise, it may prove helpful to consider the conditional phrase, "in my name."
First of all, the injunction to ask in Christ's name indicates the necessity of asking in Christlike recognition of man's divine estate. And emphasizing the importance of the way in which the asking is to be done, the inspired word of the Scriptures further states, "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts." Is it not clear from this that asking amiss arises from failure to ask in accordance with the wonderful promise made by Christ Jesus? Asking with Christlike purity of motive would eliminate the factor that would defeat the purpose of true prayer.
