How do we pray? How do you pray? Aren't most of our prayers "man-centered"--even "self-centered" and mostly temporal?
God is the most important person in the universe. More important than all others put together. All the nations are as nothing before him, they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness" (Isaiah 40:17).
That's why Jesus put this request at the beginning of the Lord's prayer: "Hallowed be your name."
The whole-souled act of hallowing God's name is the most important act in the universe. To "hallow" means to "sanctify" which in God's case means to set apart in your mind and heart as supremely great and beautiful and valuable.
"Hallowed be your name" means, "See to it that your name is hallowed. Use your infinite power and wisdom and love to stir up billions of hearts and minds to admire you and prize you above all things."
We ask him to fulfill this promise:
"I will sanctify [hallow] my great name, which was profaned among the nations.... And the nations shall know that I am the Lord...when I shall be sanctified [hallowed] in you before their eyes." (Ezekiel 36:23)
"For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another." (Isaiah 48:11)
Ask the Lord to help you make the most important prayer your most common prayer. And the one you desire most to see answered.
Posted: 25 Mar 2009 11:07 PM PDT (Author: John Piper)
God is the most important person in the universe. More important than all others put together. All the nations are as nothing before him, they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness" (Isaiah 40:17).
That's why Jesus put this request at the beginning of the Lord's prayer: "Hallowed be your name."
The whole-souled act of hallowing God's name is the most important act in the universe. To "hallow" means to "sanctify" which in God's case means to set apart in your mind and heart as supremely great and beautiful and valuable.
"Hallowed be your name" means, "See to it that your name is hallowed. Use your infinite power and wisdom and love to stir up billions of hearts and minds to admire you and prize you above all things."
We ask him to fulfill this promise:
"I will sanctify [hallow] my great name, which was profaned among the nations.... And the nations shall know that I am the Lord...when I shall be sanctified [hallowed] in you before their eyes." (Ezekiel 36:23)
"For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another." (Isaiah 48:11)
Ask the Lord to help you make the most important prayer your most common prayer. And the one you desire most to see answered.
Posted: 25 Mar 2009 11:07 PM PDT (Author: John Piper)
Comments
I was also quite amazed when I read your blog this morning. But, He so often amazes me! What sweet bouquets He gives us when we least expect it, to remind us of His soveriegnty and love.
I loved your post on prayer and had not yet had the chance to comment.
Let us stand together and worship Him with our lives in every way.
God has used you to encourage my heart. I praise Him for that.