TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Matthew 6:9b
Read: Matthew 6:9-10
Listen: Matthew 6
TODAY’S MESSAGE
Jesus wants to teach his disciples and followers a way they have never prayed before that includes addressing God as Father. While tender and affectionate, Jesus wants them always to recognize God is above and beyond us. Jesus says God is “hallowed,” a word we don’t often use. Pastor Jeff Manion explains this means God is holy and set apart—to be honored, revered and respected above all others for his righteous character and good deeds.
The Lord’s Prayer contains six petitions (requests) that Jesus tells us to make. The first petition is about approaching God the right way by recognizing he is our hallowed father. Often, we jump right into prayer by asking God for what we want. When we address him as Father, we recognize he is caring and benevolent. But this is not a cuddly benevolent Teddy Bear, but God Almighty far above us in every way. We need to remember who he is before we remember what we need.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
As you pray The Lord’s Prayer today, praise God for who he is when you get to the phrase “hallowed be your name.” If you’d like to take this even further, praise God with as many characteristics of God as you can think of using the alphabet A–Z. For example, “God, I praise you for being almighty, for being benevolent, for being caring…” and so on. No matter what words you use, let God know you love and honor him for who he is.
40 DAYS OF PRAYER
Join us for 40 DAYS OF PRAYER where all of us will find a quiet space and slowly read The Lord’s Prayer. May forty days of praying like Jesus prayed, and desiring what Jesus wanted, make a big difference in our hearts and our communities.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art 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 forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For yours is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever. Amen.
NEW TESTAMENT READING PLAN
Join us this year as we read through the New Testament.
Today’s reading is John 11.
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.
