Praying “Holy Be Your Name…”

Scripture describes Jesus as “the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being” (Hebrews 1:3). He is “the Word became flesh” who “made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14). The word dwelling means “tabernacle.” Just like the tabernacle in the wilderness, Jesus was God’s radiant presence who came to dwell at the center of people’s lives—demonstrating how to become a holy people who bear his name and live from their God-given identity.

The phrase “Holy be your name” in the Lord’s Prayer encompasses all of that, and Jesus invites us to pray these words daily as a ritual of remembrance.

He also invites us into community. One of the first things Jesus did after launching his ministry was to gather a group of disciples—people who would mimic his way of life, not just his words.

The apostle Peter, writing to both Jewish and Gentile followers of Jesus in Asia Minor, reminded them of who they were: “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light...Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God” (1 Peter 2:9, 12).

Take these words to heart as someone who has given allegiance to King Jesus, and remember that every choice you make, every way you show up in the world, is telling a story about the God you belong to. The only questions are: What message is your life communicating? Is it the message you want to be sending?

You don’t have to be perfect. The first disciples weren’t. But they kept walking with Jesus, learning, adjusting, and letting their lives slowly be shaped by the holiness of his name.

So can you.

When you pray, “Holy be your name,” you’re not just revering God—you’re asking him to reshape your life into a living reflection of his.

You’re inviting him to make his name great through you.

Practice: Each time you enter a new space today—your workplace, a classroom, a store, even your home—pause for a moment and quietly pray: “Holy be your name through me here.” Let this be a breath prayer that reminds you that every choice, word, and action carries God’s name into that space. At the end of the day, reflect back: Where did I sense God’s presence shaping me? Where might I need his grace to try again tomorrow?