TEACHINGS on PRAYER (7)

SECOND PRINCIPLE OF PRAYER

REALIZATION OF GOD’S HOLINESS

(Matthew 6: 9; Luke 11:12)

                 

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he second principle presented in this outline of our Lord’s teaching on prayer may be translated, “Thy name must be reverenced,” or “Let all that thou art be reverenced.”  It is not enough to take it as a simple requirement as though the words were a directive to revere the name of God.

Without reverence we cannot rightly think of God at all; for to think of God without reverence is just not to think of God.  The idea of God is such that it can only be comprehended by the reverent mind. The practical importance of this principle is twofold:

1.      Effective prayer begins with a realization of the presence of God. Prayer might be defined as God-consciousness.  The teaching of the saints that all prayer should begin with adoration has its origin in this precept of Jesus.  The casual or careless prayer has little value.  Prayer is conversation with God, and it must begin with the best idea of God of which we are capable. 

2.      Reverence for God liberates the worshiper from all bondage to other powers.  “Hallowed be thy name” means “All that God is commands our reverence, and nothing else does.”  The name of God stands for His character, that which He is essentially.

It would take many names even faintly to suggest what God is, but there is one name for God that is supremely Christian: “God is love.”  So when we say, “Hallowed be they name,” we are saying, “Let His love be reverenced,” We bow before His love, but to no other power will we yield.  We worship the God who is revealed in the love of Christ, and we acknowledge no other.

It is not enough to give academic acceptance to the belief that the Spirit that was in Jesus is the ultimate value and supreme power.  We must examine our conduct, which is usually an accurate register of our beliefs.

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everence for God grows with the contempiation of God.  The more we think of God, the more we stand in awe of Him.  It has been said that familiarity breeds contempt.  The very opposite is true with regard to God.  The more familiar we are with Him, the more beautiful He becomes to us.  Hallelujah!

God’s name, that which God is, must be hallowed; and the more we grow in capacity for reverence, the greater the value of our prayers.

  

Playwright Janet Irene Thomas

Founder/Chairman/CEO

Bible Stories Theatre of

Fine & Performing Arts

www.biblestoriestheatre.org

info@biblestoriestheatre.org