Happy 2023 to you and yours! I'm thankful to be alive and to welcome a fresh new year with you!
I used to make New Year's Resolutions every year until I realized it was discouraging when I didn't keep up with them. Now I do word(s) for the year instead. I seek the Lord to provide me with a specific word theme or statement to focus on and meditate on for 365 days. This year, He released a few words, and I will share one today that I have been marinating on since the closing days of 2022, when He initially dropped them into my heart.
If you have recited the Lord's prayer (Matthew 6:9-13), you will have said "hallowed" before. The Holy Spirit revealed that we have lost the significance of the phrase "hallowed be thy name." Other parts of the Lord's prayer are regarded; however, the word, hallowed, is quickly overlooked. According to Merriam-Webster, hallowed is defined as holy, sacred, consecrated, or revered. After learning of my mistake, I sincerely repented as I reflected on what I had disregarded. My focus was more on my pursuit to grow in my friendship with God than on who He is. I don't think anything is wrong in desiring to be His friend (John 15:15, Psalm 25:14), but God is our Lord and King before our friend.
"Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name." ~1 Chronicles 29:10-13
"O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!" ~Psalm 8:1
I read the verses repeatedly and became overwhelmed as I no longer perceived Him as my friend first but as my Lord and King. I encourage you to reflect on this word, "HALLOWED," and define what it means to you. Please don't make the same mistake as I did and skip over such a profound piece of the Lord's Prayer. If we are going to pray the way the Lord taught us, we must remember the weight of our sacred King.
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