This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name… Matt 6:9 (NIV)
THE LORD’S PRAYER – PART 2
Hearing different names aloud can conjure up different emotions. Some names bring dread and fear, others joy or hope, peace and more… What do you think when you hear the name Jesus or Father God?
Hallowed means “to honour as holy.” When we speak or hear God’s name, our association with it should be honour and holiness. For some of us, it’s a journey to arrive at this conclusion of God. Things we have heard and experienced at the hands of others and seasons in life can taint the reality of who God is and what His name means and, therefore, the feelings the hearing of it evokes.
Right now put aside every idea that you have about God – clear your mind and heart. Build your association of the name of God with what He is called in the Bible, some of those names are:
Elohim: Strong One, Sovereign (Is 54:5, Jer 32:27).
El Shaddai: God Almighty (Gen 17:1, Ex 6:1).
El Olam: The Everlasting God (Gen 16:13).
Yahweh: He exists, He is (Gen 4:3).
Yahweh Jireh: The Lord will provide (Gen 22:14).
Yahweh Nissi: The Lord is my banner, victory (Ex 17:15).
Yahweh Shalom: The Lord is Peace (Jud 6:24).
Yahweh Sabboath: The Lord of Hosts – commander of Heavens armies (1 Sam 1:3).
Yahweh Maccaddeschcem: The Lord your Sanctifier (Ex 31:13).
Yahweh Roi: The Lord my Shepherd (Ps 23:1).
Yahweh Shammah: The Lord is there (Ezek 48:35).
Jehovah Rapha: The Lord our Healer
Adonia: Authority and Master.
The word most used in the NT for God is “Theos” and its meaning expresses God as: The One true and unique God (Matt 23:9, 1 Tim 1:17); Transcendent (Acts 17:24), and Our Saviour (John 3:16).
Finally, and most profoundly, we call God ‘Father’. He is the true Father – who loves, protects, provides, disciplines, heals, hopes, dreams, saves, and extends his compassion and mercy upon us authentically – not for an opportunity of manipulation, but from a place of deep love and blessing. He is both our legacy and future.
When praying you're addressing our personal Father AND our honoured and holy God. He is personal and supernatural. When you hear His name, hear who He is.