The Spirit of PrayerSample

hallowed be your name

PRAISE

The first two verses of the Lord’s prayer are all about praise, perspective, and purpose (6:9-10). We don’t start our prayer time with our needs and or a “to-do list” but with praising God, getting his perspective on our lives, and establishing the purpose of His Kingdom above our own needs.

Verse 9 starts our prayer time with praise and adoration, which means worship—glorying and exalting God. Hallow means “holy”, so when we say “hallowed be your name”, we are saying that his name is holy, to be glorified, worshipped, exalted, and honoured.

Through adoration, we show our loyalty and admiration for our Father. As we pray, we are called to worship God in adoration. Maybe you could start your prayer time with a song of praise to him, praying a psalm of worship, declaring his attributes, or a myriad of other forms of worship. Praise opens your eyes to see the perspective of heaven, to come up to where he is seated and view your life from his perspective. (Rev 4:1 and Ephesians 2:6). Worship is the atmosphere where truth dwells. There is power released in worship and praise. It lifts our eyes to heaven to see the truth of the God we serve, the one who is all-powerful and able to answer our prayers.

Psalm 42:11

Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.

Psalm 100:4

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

Thank him for what he has done and is doing and is about to do. Prayer is not a “to-do list,” for God it is a relationship. Beginning with praise stops us from beginning with “complaining.” No, we enter his gates with thanksgiving and courts with praise! When you praise your eyes are opened to his authority, his power, who He is in your life, and you can pray from that perspective. It establishes your heart in gratitude. Begin with praise so you can pray from a heavenly perspective. Remember the story of Jehoshaphat. He defeated the Moabites and Ammonites by praising God. God will fight the battle as you praise (2 Chronicles 20).

Prayer Point: Father, I praise you as Everlasting Father, you are great Almighty God. I enter your courts with thanksgiving and praise that you are my provider, all-powerful, all-knowing Father. I pray that your name is glorified as I pray and live my life for your glory.

KEY PRAYER POINT: PRAY FOR THE WORSHIP TEAM IN YOUR CHURCH THAT THEY WOULD GLORIFY GOD THROUGH WORSHIP.