This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,…” Mat 6:9

Jesus gives us a model for prayer in which the beginning is all about God and not about us. The prayer starts with a series of imperatives, things that are primary declarations but also requests in a way. The first is “hallowed be your name”. This means your name be holy! It’s not so much a request that God would make his name holy – because it already is – but a declaration and request for us to appreciate that for all its worth.

In the Bible, God’s name stands for his person and in honouring and praising it, we do so to him.Psalm 30:4 commands us to “give thanks at the remembrance of his holy name”. Psalm 111:9 declares “holy and awesome is his name”.

Christian songwriter Brian Doerksen was on point when he crafted that beautiful song:

“You are the sovereign I am, Your name is holy
You are the pure spotless Lamb, Your name is holy

You are the Almighty One, Your name is holy
You are the Christ, God’s own Son, Your name is holy

In Your name, there is mercy for sin
There is safety within, in Your holy name
In Your name, there is strength to remain
To stand in spite of pain, in Your holy name”

As the Psalms would command you: give thanks to his holy name!

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