This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:9-10)
Jesus begins to tell us how to pray in this first part of what we call the Lord’s Prayer. The first thing we are to ask God for is that his kingdom is active, his will is done, and things on earth become like it is in heaven - which is a prayer that will finally be fulfilled after Jesus returns.
But in the meantime, we are to pray that God’s will is done on the earth - that justice is done, that mercy is offered, that truth is honored, that grace is given. We can pray for this on a large scale - that there would be peace among the nations - and on a small scale - that his will would be done in my immediate relationships. Petitioning God that his will is done and that his kingdom on earth is established is a prayer of submission and surrender. It is an admission that his way is better than my way and that, above all things, I want his way even if it is different than my way - or especially if it is different.
Action: This week, ask God that his will be done throughout the world, throughout our country, in our church, and in our relationships. And pray for what he has promised, for the coming of his kingdom on earth.
“Father in heaven, I worship you and I ask that your kingdom come and reign on the earth and that your will is done in my life today. Help me desire your will and welcome it as you bring it to me.”