Volume 36: Praying His Name, Not Building Ours

Day 140 Devotional

PRAYING HIS NAME, NOT BUILDING OURS

One of the greatest dangers in prayer is approaching God with the same ambition that fueled the builders of Babel.

Genesis 11:4 records their ambition: “Let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name…”

Notice their focus was not God’s name. It was their own.

The problem at Babel was not construction. It was motivation. They were attempting to reach heaven without surrendering to the God of heaven. They wanted significance without submission, influence without obedience, and a name without relationship.

Sadly, much of modern prayer suffers from the same disease.

Many people pray primarily about their plans, dreams, ambitions, desires, comfort, success, and reputation. Prayer becomes a spiritual ladder we climb in hopes of getting God to bless what we have already decided we want. Yet Jesus taught us a completely different starting point.

When the disciples asked Him how to pray, He did not begin with their needs. He began with God’s identity.

“Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.” (Matthew 6:9)

Before daily bread came God’s name. Before forgiveness came God’s name. Before deliverance came God’s name. Before any request came God’s name.

Jesus understood that effective prayer begins when we become more interested in who God is than in what God can give.

Throughout Scripture, God continually reveals Himself through His names. Every name unveils another aspect of His nature, His character, His authority, His promises, and His desires. He is Elohim, the Creator. He is El Roi, the God who sees. He is Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides. He is Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals. He is Jehovah Shalom, the God of peace. He is Jehovah Tsidkenu, the Lord our righteousness.

These names were never given merely to increase our knowledge. They were given to deepen our relationship.

When we learn His names, we begin learning His heart. When we learn His heart, we begin praying differently. When we begin praying differently, our desires start aligning with His will.

Prayer was never designed to help us make a name for ourselves. Prayer was designed to teach us how to live for His name.

As we continue our daily devotionals, we will also explore the names of God revealed throughout Scripture. We will discover not only who He is, but how understanding His identity transforms the way we pray, worship, trust, obey, and live.

The builders of Babel sought to make their name great. The followers of Christ seek to make His name known.

Today, ask yourself a simple question: Am I using prayer to advance my agenda, or am I allowing prayer to align me with God’s identity and purposes?

“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.” (Matthew 6:9)

PRAYER

Father, forgive me for the times I have approached prayer focused more on my own desires than on Your identity. Teach me to seek Your heart before I seek Your hand. As I learn Your names, reveal Your character. Align my desires with Your will, my thoughts with Your truth, and my life with Your purposes. Let my prayers bring glory to Your name rather than attention to my own. In Jesus’ name, Amen.