Hallowed be Thy name

2 He said to them, “When you pray, say: “‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’” (Luke 11:2-4)

Most of us pick up a nickname as we travel through life – often starting at school. When I was a young bobby on the beat, my colleagues soon worked out one for me. My surname Leathers gave them the way in – they were big on looking after their cars, and the “chamois leather” was a good cloth for getting a good shine on your bonnet. So, I was known as “Shammy” when they were not using my callsign on the radio. It wasn’t a special name and often used for fun. However my real name is special to me, and each of us at our baptism is given a name which is special.

In the Lord’s prayer we ask that God’s name be “hallowed”. This is not a term we use often today. It is an archaic word which means “holy”. In the prayer we are asking that God’s name would be holy. In much of modern speech, God’s name is not holy – it is profane. Merely a swearword. So, one part of the Lord’s prayer is where we are reminding ourselves that we should keep His name holy. We treat His name with respect and honour. We are to see God’s name as sacred and set apart from everything else.

Hallowing God's name means recognizing how truly amazing God is. It's like saying, "God, You are so special, so powerful, and so full of love! Your name is worthy of all praise!". We show this honour in many ways.

So, we avoid using His name carelessly or in anger; when we follow God's rules, we show that we respect Him and want to please Him; and we try to be kind, helpful, and forgiving, just like Jesus taught us.

Hallowing God's name also comes from a heart full of gratitude. Think about all the wonderful things God has given us: our families, our friends, our homes, the beautiful world around us, and most of all, His love. When we are thankful for these gifts, we naturally want to praise God and honour His name.

It's not just about saying "hallowed be Your name" in our prayers. It's about living it out every day. Here are some ways you can hallow God's name:

• Thank God for the good things in your life: Take a moment each day to appreciate what God has given you.
• Be kind to others: Show God's love to everyone you meet, even when it's hard.
• Tell others about Jesus: Share the good news of God's love with your friends and family.
• Make ethical decisions: Let your actions be guided by biblical principles.

When we hallow God's name, we're not just saying words; we're showing the world how amazing God is through our actions and our attitudes. We are demonstrating that God is real, good, and worthy of honour. And that's something to be truly grateful for!

11 ‘You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.’ (Revelation 4:11)

Brian Leathers August 2025