hallowed be your name

Think of someone you know. Whenever you hear their name, what are you reminded of? You might smile, or remember the way they love you. Or you might react differently. That person’s name is probably like a shorthand reminder of who they are, what their face is like, and perhaps how they treated you.

When Jesus is teaching his disciples how to pray, he tells them to say...

“This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed [holy] be your name” - Matthew 6:9

Why holy? The Father is a lot of things: wise, powerful, loving, gracious, just, awesome... why does Jesus want us to remember that His name is ‘holy’ first?

I think it’s because it reminds us how amazing a thing prayer is, and how the rightness of God is designed to flow through our conversation with Him.

His name is not just a line in a phone book or a contact on a smart phone. It’s holy, and when we pray we’re connecting up to that same holiness, whether it’s a prayer of thanksgiving, petition, or just a chat with God. It’s great perspective.

Today, before you pray, why not take a moment to breathe and consider the holiness of what you’re about to do, and to whom you’re talking to. Our Father, in perfection, who calls us His own, is pure holiness. And we get to talk with Him. Isn’t that amazing?