Cultivating A Soul That Hallows

 

On Monday evening, we held our second Prayer Meeting of the year. We continue examining our Lord’s teaching on prayer — and more specifically, His instruction on how we are to approach God.

Too often, Christians drift into prayer hurried, distracted, and at times overly casual. We do not approach God defiantly, but we often approach Him carelessly. Yet from that mountainside, the Lord Jesus made it clear that there is a soul-posture essential for every citizen of the kingdom when they pray.

Jesus established that posture in a single word:

Hallowed.

“
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.”
— Matthew 6:9

That is not a word we use often. In fact, we likely only speak it when reciting the Lord’s Prayer. It does not appear in everyday conversation or text messages. And yet Jesus teaches that when we pray, we must hallow God’s name.

To hallow is not to make God holy — He already is. To hallow is to treat Him as holy. It is to regard Him rightly. It is to approach Him as other — wholly set apart, utterly distinct, altogether glorious.

This is a posture many of us lack in prayer. At times, pastors and churches have failed to model it clearly or instruct it carefully. But if we are to grow in prayer, we must grow in the hallowing of God’s name.

How Do We Cultivate a Soul That Hallows?

A soul learns to hallow God’s name when it lingers beneath the weight of who He is. Or to say it plainly: hallowing happens when the weight of God’s character rests upon the soul — not merely informing the mind, but moving the heart to surrender and stirring zeal for His glory.

If we are to cultivate this posture, we must allow the character of God — as revealed in Scripture — to press upon our minds and settle deeply into our hearts.

Here are some attributes* from Scripture to read and meditate upon to cultivate a soul that hallows:

“A soul learns to hallow God’s name when it lingers beneath the weight of who He is.”
 
“And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!””
— Isaiah 6:3

Holiness

  • “You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.” — Leviticus 11:45

  • “There is none holy like the LORD.” — 1 Samuel 2:2

  • “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” — Isaiah 6:3

  • “Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.” — 1 Chronicles 16:29

Mercy and Steadfast Love

  • “You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.” — Psalm 86:15

  • “The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.” — Psalm 145:8–9

  • “The LORD is good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon him.” — Psalm 86:5

 
 

Justice and Righteousness

  • “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne.” — Psalm 89:14

  • “I the LORD love justice.” — Isaiah 61:8

  • “Let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me… that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth.” — Jeremiah 9:24

Faithfulness and Covenant Loyalty

  • “Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant.” — Deuteronomy 7:9

  • “Great is your faithfulness.” — Lamentations 3:23

  • “Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.” — Psalm 36:5

Greatness and Power

  • “Who is like you, O LORD… majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?” — Exodus 15:11

One of the reasons our prayers feel thin has little to do with a lack of words and much to do with a lack of vision. We rush into our prayer closets ready with requests, yet rarely linger long over who God is.

To hallow God in prayer begins with slowing ourselves down — placing our souls beneath the weight of His revealed character.

So stop. Slow down. Open your Bible. Consider His attributes. Ask the Lord to teach your soul to tremble where it should and to trust where it must.

For when a soul sees God rightly, it will hallow Him gladly — and joyfully — for the sake of His glory.

*Attribute categories compiled with the help of Logos Bible Software.

 
Jeth Looney