Hallowing Him Always Hallows Me
Hallowing His name may seem like a lofty or transcendent act. The reality is that it is where the rubber hits the road. Praying these words compels us to bend the knee and yield our lives. It is the juncture where our theology and doxology converge. Our theology is what we think about the nature and character of God. Our doxology is a word or thought about the weightiness of glory. Our theology and doxology propel us towards worship and surrender.
Hallowing God's name is about praising Him and enthroning Him as the King of Kings. His name is the essence of God Himself. It is His character, reputation, authority, and power. Holy worship yields radical surrender. We become what we behold, and we are continually becoming what we will be. Hallowed be Your name is more than a statement; it is a request. We are asking God to do something in us and the world. We cannot make His name more holy, but rather we can treat it as more holy. This prayer asks God to hallow our lives, words, emotions, choices, relationships, and work. It affirms that God is God and we are not.
J.I. Packer said, "The older I get, the more I want to sing my faith and get others singing it with me. Theology is for doxology: the first thing to do with it is to turn it into praise and thus honor the God who is its subject." Hallowing God's name leads us to a covenant choir rehearsal. We sing together, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty. Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee, perfect in power, in love and purity!"
As we pray this together, we are pleading with God that He will make His name precious and preeminent to us. We pray that He will hold the highest value in our minds and hearts. The more we hallow His name, the more we will trust Him completely with our lives. We cannot hallow God's name until God hallows or sanctifies us first! Hallowing God's name is a dangerous prayer to pray because it will leave us nothing less than transformed.
I am praying for you,
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