For my senior year of high school, I transferred from a small private Christian school to a large public school. I went from 15 students in my class to 256. Needless to say, it was a bit overwhelming.
One of the first conversations I remember having is with a guy in study hall. He knew I was new and asked where I went before. When I told him that I had transferred from the local Christian school, his only question for me made me laugh. He asked, “Do they make you pray there?”
Prayer. It is one of those “spiritual things” that many feel you “have to do.” It is something assumed to be desired by only religious people, but is something many people find themselves wanting to do in moments of crisis.
This coming Thursday, May 1, is the National Day of Prayer. It is a national event inviting people to pray for our nation. And what should we pray? I can think of many things. We can and should pray for the leadership of our political leaders at every level. We can and should pray for the safety of our military, local and abroad. We can and should pray for our future and the education of our children.
But could I suggest that we think more deeply about our prayers this day? Could I suggest there is something even greater for us to pray? It is something that Jesus Himself commended for us to pray in His famous “Lord’s Prayer” (Matthew 6:9–13). You may remember how it starts: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” Stop there! May I suggest that this year, the God to whom we pray is more important than the words in which we say? May I suggest that we pray that the name of God be hallowed?
Now, on one hand, this prayer sounds cold and dry. After all, what does “hallowed” mean? Simply put, to “hallow” something means to sanctify it or keep it holy. And so at the simplest level, this prayer is that the name of God would not be misused. It is a prayer for respect; a prayer for reverence; a prayer for honor. It is a heart-felt cry that we would be attributing to God the holiness that He already is. It means that our prayer should be that we give to God and act about God that which is already true about Him—that He is holy.
That’s my prayer this year. My prayer is that God would be revered and honored in everything I do. And that He would be revered and honored in what our country does.
When that kid asked me if they made me pray, my response was, “No, I want to pray.” The heart that feels forced to pray is probably not revering the name of the One they claim to be praying to. And so I hope your feeling on Thursday is not ,“Do we have to pray?” but, “I’m excited to pray that my God be honored.”
