 Thirdly, Jesus said prayer had to be made in his name. Prayer can only become effective when it is made as we have been directed to pray by Christ. Jesus said, and whatsoever you shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you shall ask anything in my name, that will I do. Here then is the key to prayer, which is simply access to God. Every person that has ever gotten to the throne of grace has had to approach God through Jesus Christ.