Praying With Jesus: Hallowed Be Your Name Series

PRAYING LIKE JESUS: Hallowed Be Your Name

In Luke 11:1-2, we read, “One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray’ … He said to them, ‘When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name.”’

Jesus wants us to pray that everyone on earth, including ourselves, will hallow the name of God.

The NAME of God stands for all he is and does. Names like Coke, Nike, Apple or BMW represent the companies and their products. The name of God represents God himself. For example:

Proverbs 18:10 The Name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

Isaiah 30:27 See, the Name of the LORD comes from afar, with burning anger and dense clouds of smoke;

HALLOWED means to be considered holy—venerated and worthy of respect. In the Gettysburg Address, Abraham Lincoln said, “We cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot HALLOW this ground, for it has already been HALLOWED by the blood of the men who…gave their lives on this soil.”

When we pray, “Hallowed be your name,” we pray that everyone on earth will recognize God as holy, worthy of respect, and valued above all others.

The Lord’s Prayer begins with recognizing God! He is in first place, above all!

We don’t begin with ourselves and our needs. So often, prayer is about “I need…I want…please give me…heal, guide, bless, protect…” Those can be good things to ask for, but we do well to first recognize that every good thing depends upon God’s good name. When his name is hallowed, life is good.

WHEN WE PRAY HALLOWED BE YOUR NAME, WE ARE RECOGNIZING THAT GOD IS THE FOUNDATION OF LIFE.

-We recognize that God is the CREATOR AND SUSTAINER of everything.

Psalms 8:1 says, “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is YOUR NAME in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.”

We stare in wonder at the stars, and the more we learn about the forces that hold the universe together—from infinitesimal quantum dimensions to the vast expanses of the universe—the more we are in awe of the One who holds the universe in the palm of his hand.

We study the diversity of plants, the instincts of animals, or the intricacies of DNA, and we are in awe of the wisdom and plan of God.

We contemplate humanity, and when we consider the wonder of the human mind and emotions, the mysteries of sexuality and relationships, and the creativity of art and technology, we give glory to God for creating us in such a marvelous way.

In our prayers, we praise God for wonders beyond our ability to fully comprehend. That increases our faith and motivates our prayers.

-We recognize that God is the FOUNDATION OF ALL THAT IS GOOD. In a sea of moral confusion and alternate concepts of truth, we express our faith and desire for God’s name to be hallowed, because when it is, truth and justice will be recognized.

Deuteronomy 32:3-4 says, “I will proclaim THE NAME of the Lord. Oh, praise the greatness of our God! He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.”

When God’s name is hallowed in society, there is RESPECT FOR WHAT IS RIGHT. The moral foundations of American society, and even many laws, are based on God’s righteousness and justice. When God is hallowed, society benefits.

When God’s name is hallowed in marriage, there is a foundation of dependable love. Couples are committed to work through difficulties and challenges. God’s character is reflected in forgiveness, faithfulness, and caring for others. Children have a solid foundation of love, respect, and moral values. That is why the commandment says, in Deuteronomy 5:16, "Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”

When God’s name is hallowed in our own lives, we make wise choices. We do what is right, and strive for a better society. We are less anxious, more aware of our blessings, and more positive about life. As Psalm 128:1-2 says, “Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways. You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.”

When we pray, “Hallowed be your Name,” we recognize that God can make all of life better.

-We recognize that God is the FOUNDATION OF MEANING AND PURPOSE.

Without God, what is the point of life?

***Albert Einstein denied that life had any goal or purpose. Nevertheless, he said that life should be guided by, “satisfaction of the desires and needs of all, as far as this can be achieved, and achievement of harmony and beauty in human relationships.”**