Hallowed be your name.
Matthew 6:9c
The point of this prayer is: Lord, may your name be honored! May your name be exalted! May your name be glorified! Lord, may you get the honor due to your holy name.
The spirit behind this request is a blazing passion for the glory of God. Our concern in prayer is God’s name not our name, God’s reputation not our reputation. For self-centered humans like us, that’s easier said than done.
Do you notice how God-centered this prayer is? Think of the first four lines:
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
Jesus is teaching us how to pray and his model prayer exudes one striking trait: Make your prayers God-centered, not self-centered. It’s not wrong to bring your needs to God. In fact, it’s a good thing. But put the focus on God’s glory not your problems.
If you begin your praying with the glory of God, it lifts your gaze off yourself and onto God. You right-size your perspective on your problems. You are reminded that however big your problem is, God is bigger.
Are your prayers more God-centered or self-centered? Pray God-centered prayers!