Today’s Key Scripture

“Hallowed be Your name.”

— Matthew 6:9

When we come to God, we are encouraged to sanctify, glorify, and honor His holy name. Prayer is impossible unless we stand in awe at the mention of His name. The names of the Lord are revealed throughout His Word in many ways, each showing a different facet of God’s nature. Let me offer a few names to glorify:

  • Elohim—Creator—is used 2,570 times in the Old Testament, first in Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” God was the Creator, the Creator of everything, long before He was our Father. The name Elohim is always connected to creation and power.
  • Jehovah—Yahweh—occurs 6,823 times in the Old Testament. An example is Genesis 2:7: “The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground.”
  • El Shaddai—God Almighty, my Supply, my Nourishment—is used seven times in the Old Testament. Genesis 17:1 says, “The Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.”
  • Adonai—Master and Lord—is written 434 times in the Old Testament. Genesis 18:1-2 records, “The Lord appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him.”

There are many names for God throughout His Word. I encourage you to study each one.

When you say, “Our Father,” in prayer, you declare who God is. You approach His presence with love and reverence, and you walk into the Most Holy Place!

 

A Prayer for Today

As I study each part of Your Lord’s Prayer, especially as I say, “Hallowed be Your name,” I’m acknowledging that Your name was, is, and always will be holy beyond comparison. I hallow Your name. You are deserving of all my reverence and honor. Help me, through the example of Jesus and the help of the Holy Spirit, become holy, even as You are holy, not because of anything I have done or can do, but because of what Jesus has done for me and for who He is. I pray this in Jesus’ holy name, amen.

 

*All Scripture references are nkjv unless otherwise noted.