Give the name of God the reverence it requires

Exodus20:7 (The Voice) You are not to use My name for your own idle purposes, for the Eternal will punish anyone who treats His name as anything less than sacred.

Matthew6:9 (NCV) Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. 

Most of us grew up praying this version:

Matthew6:9 (KJV) After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

I wrote this note to remember that God’s name is holy. It is set apart. It is other – it is sacred. The Holy Scriptures both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament require that we keep God’s name holy. It’s not an option. It’s both a commandant from God and a prayer taught to us by Jesus Christ.

The prayer Jesus taught requires that God’s name be kept holy – that it be hallowed. So that when you pray, you are giving his name the sacred status it requires. The first thing you need to think about when you pray is: THE NAME OF GOD IS HOLY.

When you give God’s name its holy place, the rest of your prayer falls in place because you acknowledge that you can’t fathom the nature of God because He is holy. But because He is holy, he is God! Just giving God’s name reverential treatment elevates our prayer experience. Have you been aware of this? Probably not. Many simply repeat the prayer, I know I have. 

Society takes our Lord’s name in vain in so many profane ways. People curse using His name: words roll off tongues effortlessly. You hit your finger and the first word that rolls off your tongue…well. Reconsider your words.

Stop and think of the ways you might be desecrating and disrespecting God’s name without even thinking about it. Remember that God’s name is only to be used with utmost respect. He is not your pal or your bro. He is God Almighty Maker of Heaven and Earth. Don’t relegate his name to human familiarity.

Whenever you think or say God’s name make sure that you do it in a reverential way – with respect.  In a way that honors Him.

God’s name is not to be taken lightly.  Read Exodus 20:7 again.