There is a popular Christian song titled “Mighty Name of Jesus” that includes the words, “I pray into the atmosphere.” I like the song, but I think that particular line is a poor choice of words. Prayer is not simply something we release into the atmosphere. When we pray, we should be deeply conscious of who we are speaking to.
Hallowed
In the prayer Jesus taught us, He began:
“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.” – Matthew 6:9
In Scripture, God’s “name” often represents God Himself as He has revealed Himself – His character, nature, authority, and reputation.
Hallowed.
We should pause there – literally – and ponder in our hearts who He is that we are praying to.
In the Holy Bible God has revealed Himself as perfect, blameless, and pure. So when we pray, “Hallowed be Thy name,” we are acknowledging that God is set apart from all that is common, created, and sinful.
Remember the former things, those of long ago;
I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me. – Isaiah 46:9
But even in our deepest meditation on who God is, we cannot fully comprehend the magnitude of His holiness.
And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. – Revelation 1:17a
In our mortal flesh, what we know of God is shrouded by a veil of sin and limited by our human understanding. John, the author of the Book of Revelation, had physically been with Jesus before His resurrection. Later, he was given a vision of Jesus in heaven. He was so overwhelmed by what he saw that he fell at His feet as though dead. For a moment, the veil was drawn back, and John was given a glimpse of how “hallowed” God truly is.
Holy, Holy, Holy
Even the heavenly beings who stand in God’s presence respond to Him with the highest praise. In the Old Testament, Isaiah was given a vision of the Lord in His glory:
I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.” – Isaiah 6:1-3
Notice how the seraphim respond in God’s presence. These are heavenly beings, untouched by sin, yet even they cover their faces before Him and cry out, “Holy, holy, holy.” Their response gives us some sense of the overwhelming splendor of God.
If beings who dwell in His presence respond with such reverence, how much more should we pause when we pray, “Hallowed be Thy name.”
Related content: The Wonderful Jesus the Christ