What does it mean to pray in Jesus' name?

In John 14:14, Jesus instructs His followers that whatever they ask in His name, He will do. Praying in Jesus' name is more than a formula; it implies that we pray with an understanding of who Christ is and what He has accomplished at the cross. When we express our requests in His name, we acknowledge that it is Christ's merit and intercession that grant us access to the Father. This principle of prayer underscores the relational aspect of our engagement with God and the confidence that He listens to our petitions, rooted in the grace we have received through Jesus.