“Before everything else, preachers must be men of prayer. A prayerless preacher is a misnomer. He has either missed his calling or has grievously failed God who called him into ministry. Above all prayer must be the main plank of the platform of the man who goes forth to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ to a lost and hungry world.” – E.M. Bounds
Pastor Manny Mill of Koinonia House National Ministries includes this quote in his new book on prayer, Radical Prayer. He explains that prayer is about understanding, above all else, how to “hallow” the Lord’s name.
Manny explains what it means to hallow the name of God means.
“To adore, to revere, to cherish the name of the Father.”
How did Jesus demonstrate this when He prayed? The disciples watched Jesus praying and noticed His prayers were intimate, adoring, and powerful. They wanted to pray as He did, and the results were powerful. When they asked Him to teach them to pray, this is where He began.
“Our Father hallowed be thy name”
This is more than just an address to God. These words are packed with meaning.
“Hallowed be thy name’ is not just an acclamation. ‘Hallowed be Thy Name’ is not just worship. ‘Hallowed be Thy Name’ is a petition.”
When we hallow, or keep holy, the name of God, it means we don’t seek our own success or power. We choose to pray according to His will because His will is perfect. Manny paraphrases what Jesus was telling His followers.
“You and I need to pray the priority of My Father. And the priority of My Father is this: that in everything you pray, in everything you do because of your prayer, because you’re using the substance of the Word in your request, that everything that you pray has to be prayed exclusively to hallow the name of My Father.”
When we choose to pray in this way, our hearts change from self-focused to kingdom-focused! Manny points out that our prayers will grow in perspective as we learn to pray radical, Kingdom-focused prayers that hallow the name of God.
Key Scriptures: Hebrews 13:5; Romans 5:5; Luke 11:1-13
Featured Songs: The Lord’s Prayer by Selah; Warrior by Steven Curtis Chapman; We Fall Down by Steven Curtis Chapman
