Hallowed Be Your Name

The other day I watched a documentary film about medical and pharmacological research to find new treatments for cancers. There were a number of highly qualified, well respected, doctors and scientists, professors in their fields, who spoke about their work and research. Later that night I couldn’t sleep because thoughts about what I’d seen and what they’d said were churning around in my head.

Often if I can’t sleep I set about praying the ‘Lord’s Prayer’ in an expanded version. My theory is that if God grants us sleep (Psalm 127:2), then it’s the enemy keeping us awake, and he won’t like us to be praying, so he’ll give up. It usually works!

As I started, I noted a similarity in the idea of a name being ‘hallowed’ with the professors and doctors that I’d been listening to. These people are respected and honoured for what they’ve achieved and discovered through their research, and because of that, what they advocate is taken on board and practiced by their peers and colleagues.

As I thought about this, I seemed to get a fresh revelation about the vital link between God being able to establish His Kingdom and His will being done and the degree to which His name is hallowed (that is honoured, respected, revered). For much of the country I live in, the UK, the name of God is no longer honoured and revered, and we can see that God’s Kingdom is being eroded away. It could be quite depressing, but the comfort and encouragement is that when and where we do honour, reverence and respect our God, He can establish His Kingdom, and His will can be done.

Let’s ask Jesus now to show us today how we can demonstrate our reverence, honour and respect for Him and Father God.

Prayer: Lord we long for Your Kingdom to be established and Your will to be done in our lives, our homes, our families and our fellowship. We declare Your holiness and we honour and reverence Your name. Show us how You would like us to demonstrate this today. Amen.