“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.” – Matthew 6:9

I don’t know if you know this, but it’s about honoring God here.

Where? Here. Now. Everywhere. All the time. We never stop honoring God, making Him great in what we say, think, and do. He needs to be what our lives are all about, and I hope that’s not news to you today.

Now how can we do that? Let’s get practical. In our lives, in a world that’s become so dishonorable, how do you and I live our lives in a way that brings honor to the one who truly deserves all honor? How do we hallow He who is holy?

I mean, I don’t know about you, but it seems a little strange to me that we’re taught to pray, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.” Think about it. Are we thinking that somehow we contain the capacity to call God holy? That’s a deep thought.

Who are we to think that we somehow contain the capacity within ourselves to call Him holy? Isn’t that kind of strange? I mean, seriously, consider the source of who is calling whom what? You? Calling Him holy?

I think that we’re maybe thinking too highly of ourselves if we honestly think that we have the qualifications, understanding, and capacity to really call God holy. “Hallowed be Your name, God. I mean, You know, I just want You to know that I think You’re holy.”

What do I know about holiness? In fact, chew on this. He is holy whether I say He is or not. And me saying it doesn’t change Him at all. But do you know who it does change?

It changes me.

Do you see the point of the prayer? The point of the prayer of saying, “Hallowed be Your name,” is not God sitting on the throne saying, “Oh, I’m so glad they feel that way.”

No. He is holy regardless of how you feel. He’s holy whether you’ve admitted it or not. Me saying it doesn’t change Him at all. It changes me. It defines our relationship—He’s God, I’m not. He’s holy, and I need Him.

Listen, telling God about Himself doesn’t change Him at all. But today, in seeing that God is holy no matter what you say or do, hopefully you and I are the ones who are changed forever.

Prayer—
My Father,
You are holy, and You are my God. I desperately need You in my life. Please come and have Your way in me! Lead me into Your kingdom and teach me to build it on earth, just as You have it planned out in Heaven.
Amen