As mentioned previously, Martin Luther included some examples of how one might pray through the Lord's Prayer. This is how Luther found himself praying 'Holy be Your Name.'
"Pray: “Hallowed be your name.”
Then say: “Indeed, Lord God, dear Father, hallowed be your name, both within us and throughout the world. Destroy and wipe out the abomination, idolatry, and heresy of the Turks, the pope, and all false teachers and fanatics, who blaspheme your name, erroneously picturing you in a wretched and outrageous manner, while enthusiastically presenting their own ideas as your Word and the church’s law. Actually, under pretense of your name, they deplorably use the devil’s lies and trickery to mislead very many poor souls everywhere. And on top of that, believing that they are doing you a divine service, they kill, shed innocent blood, and persecute.
“Dear Lord God, convert and restrain such people. Convert those who shall be converted, that they with us and we with them may bless and praise your name, both in holding fast to pure doctrine and living respectable, holy lives. But restrain those who are unwilling to be converted from abusing, dishonoring, and profaning your holy name, and from misleading our poor people. Amen.”
“Dear Lord God, convert and restrain such people. Convert those who shall be converted, that they with us and we with them may bless and praise your name, both in holding fast to pure doctrine and living respectable, holy lives. But restrain those who are unwilling to be converted from abusing, dishonoring, and profaning your holy name, and from misleading our poor people. Amen.”
Some of how Luther was led to pray is very specific to his historical era. However, there are three main themes that infuse his focus: 1) God's Reputation, 2) judging those who dishonour God's Name, and, 3) salvation of those that abuse God, or at least a restraining of their 'blasphemy'.
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF
- How might you pray Luther's prayer in your own words?
- How does Luther's example influence how you pray 'Holy be Your Name'?
You can find this excerpt from Luther's little booklet here.