9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, (Matthew 6:9)
Thoughts: What do we pray for when we seek to Hallow- or make holy the name of God? God's name is already holy, we only seek to recognize this holiness. Too many have given up on any idea of truth or holiness in life. The word holy or hallow means to be different or separate and pure. It is the pure set apart from the impure. We are asking then for God's name to be set apart. It is really saying that God's identity- is different from other Gods and other beings, and we are asking that this holy identity be recognized. In some ways it is similar to the third command of the Ten Commandments to not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. But it is given in a positive sense. As believers, we are called to live in such a way that it brings attention the differentiation of our God. Our God is different and we do not need to be ashamed of this uniqueness for it is the power of salvation and the power that brings hope to the hopeless and forgiveness to the guilt-ridden. As we live holy lives, it calls attention to the holiness of God and in some ways answers this prayer. Our hope is that God's name would be hallowed in every corner of the earth.
Prayer: May I bring honor to your holy name. May I live for your sake and boldly bring forth your name with me wherever I go.
Q. 101. For what do we pray in the first request?
A. In the first request (hallowed by your name) we pray that God will enable us and others to glorify Him through His means of revelation and that He will work out everything to His own glory.
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