What does it mean to "hallow" God in prayer?
It means to worship him because of who he is - holy, set apart from us, great and awesome, and even terrifying.
In Christ's model prayer, it comes immediately after the very intimate term he uses for God - "Father" (Matthew 6:9-13).
As Elmer Towns writes, Jesus introduces the concept of God as "Abba" or "Daddy" to his followers - very different from the Old Testament terms for God. A picture of a loving father cuddling his child springs to mind.
So, what does that tell me?
It tells me that I am to rejoice in the fact that God is my Daddy. And, at the same time, I must realize I am in the presence of the creator of the universe, the Almighty God who has me and the whole world in the palm of his hand.
Intimacy and awe together.
Sometimes we fall into the trap of ignoring one of these very important aspects of God as we pray.
We may be feeling depressed and imagine that God must be displeased with us. That may lead us to view the Lord as a terrifying judge.
On the other hand, we may approach him as a kind of Easter bunny, handing out whatever chocolate eggs we ask him for.
In what is known as "The Lord's Prayer", Jesus says "hallowed be your name", a prayer that God's holiness be celebrated.
I believe he is asking us to praise God for his unique qualities. I think it also means we are requesting that God be worshiped throughout the world.
The Lord has said that, at some point, "every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God" (Romans 14:11).
We haven't yet reached that stage, but we should be praying for that even now. It will be an amazing day when people all over the world bow before God.
Elmer Towns tells the story of watching a dramatic lightning storm over darkened Mount Rushmore in South Dakota with round after round of lightning blazing above.
He says it drove him that evening to "hallow" God's names in scripture. He was reminded of God as creator, his kindness, his role as master of men, and his almighty power.
In his book Praying the Lord's Prayer for Spiritual Breakthrough, Towns writes:
"When you pray 'Hallowed be thy name,' you climb to a new level of respect for God and reverence for his person. You are ascending into the very heart of God to recognize who he is, and what he has done for us."
When you pray "hallowed be your name", you are "placing God on the throne of your heart", says Towns. As you enter God's presence, you know he is concerned for your needs and loves you deeply. At the same time, "you also enter reverently and fearfully into the throne room of a God-King who demands obedience and reverence".
May the Holy Spirit help me understand ever more deeply how great is God - and how loving, too.
It means to worship him because of who he is - holy, set apart from us, great and awesome, and even terrifying.
In Christ's model prayer, it comes immediately after the very intimate term he uses for God - "Father" (Matthew 6:9-13).
As Elmer Towns writes, Jesus introduces the concept of God as "Abba" or "Daddy" to his followers - very different from the Old Testament terms for God. A picture of a loving father cuddling his child springs to mind.
So, what does that tell me?
It tells me that I am to rejoice in the fact that God is my Daddy. And, at the same time, I must realize I am in the presence of the creator of the universe, the Almighty God who has me and the whole world in the palm of his hand.
Intimacy and awe together.
Sometimes we fall into the trap of ignoring one of these very important aspects of God as we pray.
We may be feeling depressed and imagine that God must be displeased with us. That may lead us to view the Lord as a terrifying judge.
On the other hand, we may approach him as a kind of Easter bunny, handing out whatever chocolate eggs we ask him for.
In what is known as "The Lord's Prayer", Jesus says "hallowed be your name", a prayer that God's holiness be celebrated.
I believe he is asking us to praise God for his unique qualities. I think it also means we are requesting that God be worshiped throughout the world.
The Lord has said that, at some point, "every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God" (Romans 14:11).
We haven't yet reached that stage, but we should be praying for that even now. It will be an amazing day when people all over the world bow before God.
Elmer Towns tells the story of watching a dramatic lightning storm over darkened Mount Rushmore in South Dakota with round after round of lightning blazing above.
He says it drove him that evening to "hallow" God's names in scripture. He was reminded of God as creator, his kindness, his role as master of men, and his almighty power.
In his book Praying the Lord's Prayer for Spiritual Breakthrough, Towns writes:
"When you pray 'Hallowed be thy name,' you climb to a new level of respect for God and reverence for his person. You are ascending into the very heart of God to recognize who he is, and what he has done for us."
When you pray "hallowed be your name", you are "placing God on the throne of your heart", says Towns. As you enter God's presence, you know he is concerned for your needs and loves you deeply. At the same time, "you also enter reverently and fearfully into the throne room of a God-King who demands obedience and reverence".
May the Holy Spirit help me understand ever more deeply how great is God - and how loving, too.
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