" After this manner, therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed by Thy name"
Matt. 6:9

. . .Hallowed be

By Clyde Martin


The manner in which a child of God approaches the throne of God determines the effectiveness of time spent in prayer

In teaching the disciples to pray, Jesus made clear that a child of God must approach Him in full knowledge of His sovereignty over all creation. To irreverently pray before the throne is devastating to the soul which cries out random petitions of need without gaining proper acceptance into the throne room of the Triune God.

Never is a soul refused access to God. Never has a lost sinner called upon Jesus in sincerity without receiving immediate attention as to salvation. The Word is true, "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved." However, when the disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray, He indicated the need of first praising and honoring God as Father in sincere worship. In awe we bow before Him Who is worthy.

For a disrespectful child of God who would hastily blunder into the throne room with demands of the Heavenly Father; such a one does not understand Jehovah's awesome sovereignty. Even after we search out the promises of God from His Word, we must take them in humble adoration to the throne in simple child-like faith and "ask".

I tremble sometimes in fear as I hear the demanding prayer-style of that fleshly Christian man or woman praying before the great I AM. The "good-buddy" talk of man to God assumes an equal level friendship which loses sight of the awesome sovereignty of Jehovah Father, Jehovah Son, Jehovah Holy Spirit.

"Hallowed be Your Name" goes before "Ask, seek and knock." In sincere effort to "bombard" the throne of God with prayer, we must first understand how freely we are accepted when we simply bow humbly in praise and worship to our God, who is able to supply all our needs according to His riches in glory. The victory that we often would take by force is freely given by a loving God who loves us "so".

I have personally learned by praying with some truly great prayer warriors, that we must not rush into the throne room of God with petitions without first thanking Him for that which He has already done.

Once, while kneeling with Robert G. Lee (my Father in the ministry), there was a long period of silence that made me think that he wanted me to lead in prayer. Just as my voice began to break the silence, this great man of God laid his hand gently on my shoulder and whispered, "Not yet son, not yet." As the reverent silence continued, the presence of God became real. He then said, "Now son, go ahead and pray." That day I came to understand what my Lord meant when He said, "Hallowed be Thy name."

The following quote by R. A. Torry is taken from his writings on How To Pray: "Before a word of petition is offered, we should have the definite and vivid consciousness that we are talking to God and should believe that He is listening to our petition and is going to grant the thing that we ask of Him. We should look to the Holy Spirit to really lead us into the presence of God and should not be hasty in words until He has actually brought us there."

W. CLYDE MARTIN is editor of THE PRAYER LIFE, monthly online magazine, dedicated to promoting greater prayer


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