Hi, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray with Me”.
Today, we continue praying the Lord’s Prayer. Let’s focus on the phrase “Hallowed be your name.” First, here’s the whole prayer:
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial,
And deliver us from evil.
For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, now and forever,
Amen.
Our Father in Heaven,
“Hallowed be your name.” Hallowed comes from the word holy, which means “set apart,” or “special.” So we set your name apart from the common things of daily life, and we treat your name as something special.
We set your name apart from our tools: the lawn mower, the snow shovel, the pickup truck, the computer. You are more than all of these. You are not an appliance we use to fix our broken lives. You are not a cleaning service we call on when we have sinned. You are not a gun to point at our enemies. You are God over all. You have your plans. You have your way of making things happen. This is why we set you apart, and we pray that as you carry out your plans, you will hear us call on you, and will invite us to participate in your activites.
We set your name apart in the words we use. Often we hear your name as a swear word or an exclamation mark, like “oh my God,” or “Jesus Christ.” Help us to separate your name from the dirt of our lives, to give your name a place of honor. Help us quiet our confusions, our mixed emotions, and the angers that control us. Help us to hold to your name in the quiet centre of our hearts, away from the turmoil that swirls around and within us.
We set your name apart in our relationships. You have put your image in each of us. You know the damage we do by ignoring your image in others and treating them as objects. Hallowed be your name in our relationships.
Forgive us for dumping on our children instead of correcting them quietly and peaceably. Hallowed be your name in our children.
Forgive us for treating our partners unkindly, instead of treating them as holy people, fellow travellers on our journey through life. Hallowed be your name in our partners.
Forgive us for speaking ill of parents and bosses and politicians. They too are made in your image. Despite what evil they have done, the light of your image shines in their life and activity. Hallowed be your name in all earthly authority and life.
Help us, we pray, to set your name apart in the books we read, the movies we watch, and the computer games we play. How often our entertainments are filled with violence and sex and crime and injustice. We set your name apart from these because you value peace and purity and justice.
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Make your name special in our lives, so we can make it special in our world.
Amen.
I’m Daniel on the channel “Pray with Me”.
Pray with Me 