The apostle Paul's experience seems very different to this. He was surprised that he asked God three times on a specific issue without receiving a result (2 Cor.12:8).

we've heard the explanation that every prayer is always answered – as a 'yes' / 'no' / 'wait' (as though God's reputation somehow needed protection by that explanation).

But Jesus, now glorified and at the Father's right hand had said - "ask Me anything" and "I will do it", and we always ask in His name by putting it at the end of every prayer we pray, but it seems to make no difference. Why?

'In My name' does not refer to the form of words used in a prayer, and even less to simply adding the name of Jesus at the end of the prayer. The term 'name' is used generally in Holy Scripture for more than a word, or a phylactery / mezuzah / kameah amulet.

promise in Proverbs that the 'name' of the Lord is a refuge does not refer to any magical power in the use of the term.

Understanding the semitic use of the term 'name' starts for us in Genesis where the first human 'names' the animals, which results in his sense of isolation and the gift of a wife to Adam. His process of naming was not cataloguing or inventing terms. It was appreciating the special character of each animal, the personal consequence of which was Adam's need for an Eve.

character of God revealed in the Lord Jesus Christ is the key to answered prayer; not only in the focus of our faith in directing our prayer toward Him, but in the precondition of the prayer itself, the 'IF'!

'In My name' is the equivalent today of saying 'according to My character/nature'. This covers the attitude and motivation concerning the request brought to God in prayer. Prayer is not a substitute for obedience; nor does our obedience earn the answer to prayer.

Prayers are answered by the undeserved mercy of God, but according to the character of His life, His nature, His gracious purpose, as it is personally shared by us.

God is free to do, without explanation, what the unworthy and disobedient may request in prayer, for He knows far better than us what are the real issues involved. But He always acts consistent with His own character! He is never manipulated.

Persuading many people to pray for a particular need does not affect God, as though petitions are a democracy of influence on Him. The effect of those prayers on the people praying may cause sufficient change which allows God's desire to meet their need to become effective (as Jonah later understood). The change is in the people not in God.

a National Day of Prayer for a crime-free society means nothing, absolutely nothing – unless those praying do all that they are personally able to do, at cost to themselves, to act against all lawlessness and in direct aid of the victims of injustice. And this starts by becoming personally involved in our neighbour's welfare, whether he likes it or not.