“Hallowed be Thy Name…” (Matthew 6:9).
Praise
• Praise God for His holy name and all that it reveals about His character. “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
• Praise Jesus for giving us His righteousness so we can be holy, as He is holy.
• Use the Psalms to guide you in praising God for who He is and what He has done.
Confession
• Ask forgiveness for profaning God’s name through your words, thoughts, or actions. Confess your lack of holiness and accept His forgiveness. “Your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth” (Isaiah 54:5).
• Ask God to show you any sin in your life that needs to be confessed; then take time to silently listen for His answer. Ask His forgiveness and joyfully accept His mercy.
Supplication and Intercession
• Claim the promise that “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matthew 3:11).
• Pray for yourself, your local church members, and all Seventh-day Adventists, to: a) Hate sin in all its forms; b) learn to continually abide in Christ—“He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked” (1 John 2:6); and c) experience sanctification so we can live holy lives—“As He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy’” (1 Peter 1:15, 16).
• Pray that in every area of life we can “make manifest” the name of God and do no dishonor to Him.
• Pray that we truly know how to come before God with awe and respect.
• MTTC: For all those doing supportive work—Bible studies, health evangelism, community service and disaster relief, children and youth ministries, prayer ministries, etc., to be equipped with the gifts needed for their work—and for their work to bear much fruit.
• Pray that God will help us to possess His character.
• Pray that we can fully accept the grace and righteousness of Christ.
• Take a card from the intercession box and read over the requests on it, as well as the ones on your personal card. Then ask God to show you what Scriptures to pray for these individuals. This may be one Scripture or several. Write the reference(s) on the card and pray the Scriptures for the people.
• Pray for the other requests that are on your heart.
Thanksgiving
• Thank God for enabling us to live holy lives that rightly represent Him to the world.
• Praise Him in faith for the miracles He is creating in answer to your prayers.
Suggested Songs to Sing
“Come, Holy Spirit”; “Holiness”; “Sanctuary”; “Holy, Holy, Holy” (SDA Hymnal #73); “I Need Thee Every Hour” (SDA Hymnal #483); “I Need the Prayers” (SDA Hymnal #505).
Ellen White on the Lord’s Prayer
“Hallowed be Thy Name…” (Matthew 6:9).
To hallow the name of the Lord requires that the words in which we speak of the Supreme Being be uttered with reverence. “Holy and reverend is His name.” Psalm 111:9. We are never in any manner to treat lightly the titles or appellations of the Deity. In prayer we enter the audience chamber of the Most High; and we should come before Him with holy awe. The angels veil their faces in His presence. The cherubim and the bright and holy seraphim approach His throne with solemn reverence. How much more should we, finite, sinful beings, come in a reverent manner before the Lord, our Maker!
But to hallow the name of the Lord means much more than this. We may, like the Jews in Christ’s day, manifest the greatest outward reverence for God, and yet profane His name continually. “The name of the Lord” is “merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, ... forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” Exodus 34:5-7. Of the church of Christ it is written, “This is the name wherewith she shall be called, The Lord our Righteousness.” Jeremiah 33:16. This name is put upon every follower of Christ. It is the heritage of the child of God. The family are called after the Father. The prophet Jeremiah, in the time of Israel’s sore distress and tribulation, prayed, “We are called by Thy name; leave us not.” Jeremiah 14:9.
This name is hallowed by the angels of heaven, by the inhabitants of unfallen worlds. When you pray, “Hallowed be Thy name,” you ask that it may be hallowed in this world, hallowed in you. God has acknowledged you before men and angels as His child; pray that you may do no dishonor to the “worthy name by which ye are called.” James 2:7. God sends you into the world as His representative. In every act of life you are to make manifest the name of God. This petition calls upon you to possess His character. You cannot hallow His name, you cannot represent Him to the world, unless in life and character you represent the very life and character of God. This you can do only through the acceptance of the grace and righteousness of Christ.
~ Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, pages 106,
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