If you couldn’t tell, we’ve been moving thought by thought, word by word through the first part of the Lord’s Prayer. Our Father in heaven, HALLOWED be your name. As we talked about this past Sunday, “hallowed” means to honor as holy, greatly revere and respect. So we’re saying “Our Father in heaven, holy, revered, and respected is your name. I like to simplify even more with just saying that God is good. Has a nice ring to it. Everything about our Father in heaven can be trusted. “The heavens proclaim the glory of God, the skies display his craftsmanship.” We can see in the world around us that God is powerful, big and because of this we respect his name! (And yes, this world is broken and completely imperfect, keep coming Sunday mornings, that will be addressed later in the Lord’s Prayer!) I love the way the Psalm below sums how we let God know we are thankful for all the things he has done. “May the words of my mouth and the mediation of my heart be pleasing to you”. Read Pslam 19. Tell your Father in Heaven with the “words of your mouth and the meditations of your heart” that he is good, he is honored, and he is respected.
Psalms 19
1 The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. 2 Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. 3 They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. 4 Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world. God has made a home in the heavens for the sun. 5 It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding. It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race. 6 The sun rises at one end of the heavens and follows its course to the other end. Nothing can hide from its heat. 7 The instructions of the lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The commandments of the lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the lord are clear, giving insight for living. 9 Reverence for the lord is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the lord are true; each one is fair. 10 They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb. 11 They are a warning to your servant, a great reward for those who obey them. 12 How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. 13 Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. 14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O lord, my rock and my redeemer.