Hallowed:  Honored as holy,  revered and respected.  As Jesus provided us with a blueprint on how to pray, He prayed: “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name” (Matthew 6:9).  Our intimate heavenly Father, all powerful creator of heaven and earth who reigns upon His throne in heaven over all the affairs of men, honor and glory be unto your name.  We need to pause and consider the very depth of those words.  The word hallowed appears in the New Testament only in the Lord’s Pray (Matthew 6 and Luke 11).  Can we really honor God and Hallow His name?  We must look to Old Testament to fully grasp the depth of what Jesus spoke of in this verse.

Hallowed be thy name, Lord, in my heart, my spirit, and my life.  Lift up within me your name  high above all other names in honor, glory and praise. But how do I do that?

Honor God within your Heart

Continue reading How to Really Honor God; Hallowed be Thy Name →

As Jesus began teaching His disciples how to pray, He instructed them to pray in this manner: Our Father, which art in heaven (Matthew 6:11).  For all those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, God is our Father.  But as many as received Him (Jesus Christ), to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name (John 1:12).  As Heavenly Father, He showers us with His love, His protection, and His provision.  His guiding hand is there to lead us ever closer to Him.  Therefore, as His Children, we have an intimate relationship with God.  Yet, as we recognize His closeness, we also need to consider His power and His might as our heavenly Father.

Our earthly Fathers, even the best, are limited at times.  They may not always understand the secrets of our heart.  Sometimes, they may get it wrong when they strive to guide us; because, they may misjudge the motives of our heart.  Although, they might wish to give us the world; they are limited in their power to do so.

But that is not the case with our heavenly Father.  When we pray, we need to remember this.  Although God is so very near, He is also the Sovereign Creator and King of all. Thou, even thou, art Lord alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshipeth thee (Nehemiah 9:6). Know therefore this day, and consider it in thing heart, that the Lord He is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else (Deuteronomy 4:39). Our Father is all powerful; yet, loves us perfectly.

A Heavenly Father

Continue reading What is the Significance of Having a Heavenly Father? →

Jesus began the Lord’s prayer with “Our Father” (Matthew 6:9).  Certainly, He had the right to begin with “My Father”.  Afterall, He is God’s only begotten Son. (John 3:16, John 1:18, I John 4:9).  He has every right to call Him Father.  But, Jesus began the prayer with “Our Father”.  Do you really know God as Father?  Some would try to say that we are all God’s Children.  Certainly, we were all created in God’s image; however, sin entered the world and separated us from an intimate relationship with our creator.  So, how can we come to really know God as our Father?  Jesus tells us, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (John 14:6).  Only through accepting Jesus Christ through faith, can we know God as Father.

Yet, what a wondrous, miraculous privilege it is to really know God as Father!  Through the redemptive work of Christ, we are adopted into His family as “heirs, joint-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17).  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God (Romans 8:14-16). But as many as received Him (Jesus Christ), to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name (John 1:12).

Knowing God as Father

Continue reading Do You Really Know God as Father? →

Prayer is one of our greatest privileges.  Yet, if you are like me; sometimes, I wonder how to pray more fervently.  Particularly, I have heard of great men or women of prayer, such as Billy Graham, Jerry Falwell, Charles Stanley, or Mary Winslow.  It is said that they could be found lying or kneeling for hours on end in prayer before God. I loved “The War Room”, wishing I could pray as Miss Clara did.  All too often, my mind becomes unfocused. Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full (John 16:23-24). But what am I to ask for? God knows what I need. Furthermore, He knows better than I.

Ah, but my dear Savior knew that there would be questions within my heart at times. So, He gave me a guide to help when I don’t know what to pray for.  The Lord’s Prayer is that, a guide.  Not merely words to be vainly repeated; but, a guide to prayer.  It is for that reason, I want us to delve more deeply into those words over the course of the next few weeks.  There may be days when the best I can pray is, “Help me to understand Lord.  Show me Your will. Forgive me, Lord.”  Or even, “Father I need you now.”  Ah, but we can be reassured, that if we take the time to sit with Him, He hears even the silent cries of our heart.

Romans 8:26-27

Likewise, the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

A Guide to Prayer (Matthew 6:5-13)

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.  But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

 After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

 Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Learning to be a Prayer Warrior

So, come and join me as we learn how to be prayer warriors that can impact this world for Christ.

“Lord, help us to understand how to be effective prayer warriors for you.  Guide us in Your way. Thank you for always being so near, so present that even when I sit quietly before Your throne, you hear me. In the precious name of Jesus, I pray, Amen.”

My son asked me to come to live with him.  One thing he said, rings true here as well.  “Mom, with all we have lived through, I feel I haven’t had the chance to get to really know you.  I want that chance.  Even, if we sit silently doing our own things.”   How appropriately does that fit in our relationship with God.  Perhaps, prayer is not always talking; but, rather just sitting quietly in His presence desiring to know Him is also prayer.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR?

If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. Because there is nothing more important than this, I urge you to seek Him today.

ARE YOU IN OF NEED PRAYER?

If you have a prayer request email me by clicking here

Or if you would like to tell me your story or thoughts  comment here

Books Available

If you want to know more about books I have written: please click on this link  Book Resources.

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Previous Posts on Prayer

One Sincere Prayer of Joy For An Anxious World

Prayer Poems

A Prayer for Hope

A Prayer of Healing for Our Land

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2018
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Footnotes and Credits

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