I have recently been awakened to an important aspect of prayer considering all sides of the self-identity movements today: “Hallowed be Thy name.”
The gender self-identification and LGBTQ movement is often traced back to the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York City. By 1970, gay and transgender individuals organized the first “Gay Pride” marches in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. The grassroots movement grew rapidly, with activist groups forming in major U.S. cities. Initially, their focus was on celebrating “Gay Pride” during June, but now LGBTQ awareness is recognized worldwide, with events occurring year-round.
There are other sides of the self-identity movement that provoke a fresh call for intercession!
As God’s people, we believe our Creator is the source of our identity. The best life we can live is one that aligns with and expresses the identity God has for us. We might think problems of self-identity began with the recent focus on gender dysphoria, but the challenge of self-identity has existed for thousands of years—among those who claim to believe in God. Throughout history, there has been a problem with people identifying as God’s people yet failing to live according to that identity.
Paul exhorted Timothy to remind those who identify as God’s people to ensure that their lives align with that claim:
- 2 Timothy 2:19-22 – “Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, ‘The Lord knows those who are His,’ and, ‘Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.'”
Jesus also addressed this issue in the church at Sardis, whose outward identity, “We are alive,” did not match their inward reality:
- Revelation 3:1-2 – “I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Wake up and strengthen the things that remain, which are about to die…”
This problem of identifying with His name without aligning with that identity was even addressed in the third of the Ten Commandments:
- Exodus 20:7 (Deuteronomy 5:11) – “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain (for empty purpose).”
Jesus made this the first point of intercession in The Lord’s Prayer.
When the disciples asked Jesus how to pray, He addressed this very issue of erroneous identity in the first petition, “Hallowed be Thy name.” This is not merely a statement but a petition. It is the first and probably the most important thing we can ask God for! The word “hallow” (Gk “hagiazo”) is used 29 times in the NT and means “to make holy” or “revere.” Here are a few other translations that shed light on what we ask God in this petition.
- “uphold the holiness of your name” (CEB)
- “may your name be revered as holy.” (NRSV)
- “reveal who you are” (The Message)
- “may your name be treasured and loved” (Dallas Willard)
“Hallowed be Thy name” requests that God’s name—the essence of who He is—be recognized as holy by all who claim to follow Him, so their lives will align with that identity. In ancient cultures, a name was not just a label; it represented the essence of a person’s identity. When we pray for God’s name to be hallowed, we ask that His true nature be revered and honored. God’s name is already holy! What we are indeed asking is that His holiness be acknowledged and lived out.
This idea is echoed throughout scripture:
- 1 Peter 3:15 – “Regard Christ the Lord as holy in your hearts.”
- Isaiah 29:23 – “They will proclaim my name as holy and stand in awe of Israel’s God.”
- Ezekiel 36:23 – “I will make my great name holy, which has been profaned among the nations.” The context of Ezekiel is that God’s name had been disrespected by His people, leading to a tarnished reputation. God promises to restore His name’s holiness by showing the world His true character—removing false ideas and allowing His goodness and holiness to shine forth.
When we pray, “Hallowed be Thy name,” we ask God to strip away false ideas about Him and cause people to come to a living relationship with Him to reveal His true nature. We also ask that our lives reflect His holiness so we do not dishonor His name by our attitudes and actions. When Christians act in ways and with attitudes that do not line up with His identity revealed through His word, they profane God’s name. They bear false witness regarding God to the world around us.
So, when we pray for God’s name to be hallowed, we ask for transformation of lives. Here are some areas I have been praying for, and I recommend others to pray for with: “Hallowed be Thy name.”
- Considering the recent church leadership scandals, we pray that leaders everywhere wake up to God as holy in a fresh way that would cause them to repent of any hidden sins and correct any wrong motives in their leadership.
- Considering the upcoming political season, we ask that politicians who do not really know or follow God but only use His name to advance their political influence be convicted by His holiness, repent, and be saved. We pray that others who ignore or despise God in the platforms they endorse awaken to a fear of God and repent.
- Considering people everywhere, we ask for a fresh revelation of “hallowed be Thy name” so people see they are living under His judgment, so they turn away from how they have been living and give their lives to Jesus to be saved and transformed.
- Considering the LGBTQ community, we ask that they see God and His design and freshly realize that coming into Christ and living in His identity is the only solution to the confusion, depression, and anguish in their lives that has caused them to go against His creation design.
Let us all hear a fresh call to prayer and make “Hallowed be Thy name” a priority, as Jesus taught us. “Our Father, who is in heaven, please make Your name holy (the way you already are) on earth as it is in heaven!”