Jesus prayed, "Father, glorify Your name."
John 12:28
The man and his wife were deeply troubled. She just got the bad news from her medical doctor. She was diagnosed with cancer. Surgery was necessary. How should they pray? Her husband was a seminary professor. Both of them knew the way to pray. She said, "I want us to agree in prayer, that God will receive glory through all of this. If He can receive more glory through my death, I'm prepared. If He can receive more glory through my healing, may it be so. I want God to be glorified." The surgery was successful. Her cancer went into remission. God has been glorified through her testimony.
Jesus faced His own death. He knew exactly how to pray, "Father, glorify Your name." And so the Father did. No other death in the history of mankind has brought more glory to God's love and grace for sinners. The Father was glorified three days later through the resurrection of the Son. Jesus taught that the primary purpose of prayer is to glorify God.
When we ask the Father to give us our daily bread, God is glorified as Jehovah-jireh, the LORD who provides. When we ask the Father to lead us, God is glorified as our Shepherd. When we ask the Father to deliver us from evil, God is glorified as our Savior. Prayer may ask many requests of the Father, but the primary purpose is to glorify God.
God's will is to glorify Himself through our lives. That includes our prayers. Knowing God's will is knowing what will glorify God. If you need God's help through prayer, ask that the Father will work in your situation in such a way to glorify His name. That prayer surrenders it all to God's will. Focus on the purpose of prayer.
Father, glorify Your name through our prayers.
