John 14:13, 14  Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. (CSB)

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Good morning from the West Coast!
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Years ago, a religious practitioner was featured on a daytime talk show. She had created a novel religious expression, written a book, and gathered a group of followers. She borrowed one thing from one religion and another from another in buffet line style. She left out the hard stuff. She kept all the touchy-feely stuff. 

The well-known host of the talk show asked her to pray at the end of the show. She prayed a pretty prayer. She prayed to god, lower case g. In her theology we are all god. She, in effect, was talking to herself. You and I each need a good talking to about ourselves from time to time. However, I will never pray to me, and I will ask you not to do that either. 

I am not God. I am not a god. I have a hard time being godly. 

I am quite capable of doing lots of stuff, but answering my own impossible prayers is, well, impossible. I will not pray to me and I will not pray in my own name. Those would be futile prayers. Talking to myself is not prayer. 

My name might open a door or two, but those are about the limits of its ability. I will pray in the name above all names. I will pray in the name that opens the way to the very heart of our Father in heaven. 

Read on in John 14, 15, and 16 and notice how we are to pray to our Father in heaven in the name of Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit. That’s good praying. Prayers prayed in that manner that seek to honor God and to bless others are assured of receiving the proper hearing and the proper response. 

I will pray to our Father in the name of Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Our Father, thank you for making a way for us to come into your presence with Jesus through the strength you give us by the Holy Spirit. Teach us to pray. Teach us to live prayerfully in all things at all times. Amen.

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I will pray to our Father in the name of Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit.

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Our Father, thank you for making a way for us to come into your presence with Jesus through the strength you give us by the Holy Spirit. Teach us to pray. Teach us to live prayerfully in all things at all times. Amen.