As one reads the Lord’s Prayer from (Matthew 6:9-13) Jesus clearly shows us what the priority of prayer is. Let’s take a look at this model prayer and see just what the priority of prayer is all about:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Notice that we see that the first three petitions are all about God for we read hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, and Your will be done. Then, secondarily, the prayer addresses our needs, when we read give us this day our daily bread, forgive us our debts, and do not lead us into temptation. My friends based on this I can safely say that prayer is not so much for us but for God. According to Pastor John MacArthur: “Prayer is not so much to gain for us what we think we need as it is to give to God an opportunity to manifest His glory. Prayer is for God. Only incidentally and as a by-product, is it for us.”1
While it is true that prayer gives us the great privilege to commune with God it is so much more than this. Prayer, first and foremost, gives God the opportunity to display His glory. We see this concept clearly in (John 14:13) when Jesus said: “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
So, just what is the main priority of prayer? I believe it is expressed in the phrase: “Hallowed be Your name.” This first petition or request is on God’s behalf and should be our priority when we pray; before we begin to ask for our needs to be met.
According to Arthur Pink: “How clearly then is the fundamental duty in prayer set forth. Self and all its needs must be given a secondary place, and the Lord freely accorded the preeminence in our thoughts and supplications. This petition must take the precedence for the glory of God’s great name is the ultimate end of all things.”2
But just what does the phrase “hallowed be Your name” mean? I believe that this phrase encompasses all of God’s holy nature and our response to His nature. Again, according to John MacArthur: “It opens up a whole dimension of respect and reverence and awe and appreciation and honor and glory and adoration and worship for God.”3 So, when we hallow God’s name we showcase to the whole world all of God’s many wonderful attributes.
I love how John MacArthur shares a sample prayer to express what it means to hallow God’s name: “Our Father, who loves us and cares for us, and who has in heaven supplies to meet our every need; may Your person, Your identity, Your character, Your nature, Your attributes, Your reputation, Your very being itself be hallowed.”4
Hallowed clearly implies to treat God as holy, with reverence, and to glorify, honor, and exalt His name. This means that we must be willing to hallow God’s name with our prayers but to also live a life of obedience to Him. Before we ask God for what we want and need, our prayer should be that God makes us a vehicle for His holiness. So, the next time you read the Lord’s Prayer may these few thoughts help guide you as you seek to glorify God through your prayers.
1The Priority of Prayer (gty.org)
2 The Priority of Prayer (gty.org)
Well done
“Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.”
It’s in the very first sentence that we hear something familiar to your minds. Christ is praying the Law.
First, the “Our Father.” This corresponds to the first commandment, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” It doesn’t get more authoritative and intimate than when we see Him as Father. The “before me” is not that he is first in the line of other gods but, as theologians like Calvin taught, this phrase has the meaning of placing your gods in front of God, challenging His authority. It’s an “in your face” attitude.
Secondly, “in heaven” tells us He is transcendent and not made with hands, as the second commandment prohibits.
Thirdly, “Hallowed be Your name.” In other words, we confess that His name is holy and not to be used in a vain or an empty way, the third commandment.
Have you ever prayed the rest of God’s Law? Lord, show me how to honor my mom and dad. Keep me from harboring murderous hate in my heart toward those I disagree with or who cut me off on the freeway. Help me to be honest at all times, whether being watched or not. Lord, purge the lies from my tongue and help me to be a faithful spouse. Anyway, you get the idea. If we love God’s Law then let’s pray the Law for a transformed life. Let’s follow Jesus’ example.