In Jesus Name

Have you wondered what it means to pray in Jesus name? RA Torrey suggests it is a lot like going to the bank.

If I go to the bank to cash a check, the teller will check and see if I have that much money in the bank and if so he will cash the check. My request depends on my financial merit. I ask in my name.

If I go with someone's check written to me I am able to receive cash based on their merit, their deposits in the bank. I benefit from the merit of their name. It makes no difference how much money I have in the bank. The check is honored based on his name and merit.

This is what it means to come to God on the merit of Jesus. It is not about my balance (merit) but about his merit.

Torrey says it this way, "So it is when I go to the bank of heaven, when I go to God in prayer. I have nothing deposited there, I have absolutely no credit there, and if I go in my own name I will get absolutely nothing; but Jesus Christ has unlimited credit in heaven, and he has granted to me the privilege of going to the bank with his name on my checks, and when I thus go, my prayers will be honored to any extent.
When I pray in Jesus name I pray on the ground of his merit and not my own. I renounce any claim that I may think I have personally on God and approach him on the merit of Christ alone. God is well pleased with His Son and always hears and answers his requests.