Hallowed Be Your Name If you’re new to Lifpoint | Worthington, take 30 seconds to fill out our Welcome Card! Have a question about today's message? Ask it here. “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” (Matthew 6:9-13, ESV) The Lord's Prayer: Museum or Survival Gear? We often treat the Lord’s Prayer like a religious artifact locked in a glass case. Jesus intended our faith to be lived on the road; we are called to be a pilgrim. A pilgrim knows they are not home yet and expects the elements to be harsh. The Lord's Prayer is not just a signpost; it is practical survival gear for a demanding trail. What Does “Hallowed” Mean? “Hallowed” is an old word that means to make God's name holy or honored. In the ancient world, a name represented a person's total character, authority, and reputation. The Third Commandment Connection “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain." (Exodus 20:7, ESV) Taking God's name in vain isn't just about swearing; “vain” means empty, weightless, or hollow. Have a question or pushback on this? Ask it here. When we go through brutal valleys, our view of God is challenged, and He can become small in our minds. To be holy means to be completely set apart, distinct, and wholly other. There is a profound, unbreakable relationship between God's holiness and His glory. “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” (Isaiah 6:3, ESV) When we pray “Hallowed be your name,” we invite what is weighty to displace what had become hollow. The Prayer as a Signpost When the trail is exhausting, our posture drops, and we get tunnel vision staring at the dirt. We take the weight away from God and hand it over to our anxiety. Giving anxiety our ultimate focus is strangely giving our anxiety glory. Have a question or pushback on this? Ask it here. Jesus walked into the wilderness and went to the cross to take our heaviest weight. A signpost forces you to lift your head and reorient your focus. The Prayer as a Tool The prayer acts like binoculars that pull what feels distant right up to your eyes. Anxiety always speaks in a rushed, urgent panic. To use binoculars effectively, you have to stop moving to bring the image into focus. We must pause to remember His flawless track record of faithfulness. Practice for the Week St. Ignatius advised taking a physical and mental pause before starting to pray. When your daily alarms go off, do not rush straight into the words. Stop walking, adjust your focus, and deliberately remind yourself who you are talking to. As always, if you'd like to talk more with me about anything we discussed, you can sign up for meeting time. If you have any questions from the message today, send them here and I'll follow up!