Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Matthew 6:10 (KJV)

The Lord’s prayer is the model he gave us for how we are to pray. It’s our prayer. Here is the text of the prayer:

After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Matthew 6:9-13 (KJV)

Christians throughout history have prayed this just as given by the Lord. I have many times and still do from time to time. But he does say “after this manner pray” or as another translation puts it, “pray then like this” so the prayer can also be understood and used 1) as a template to guide our own prayers and 2) to incorporate the Lord’s priorities in our own prayer time.

The Top Priority

The top priority in prayer is the worship of God. This involves acknowledgement of who he is, where he resides, and the Holiness of his name. This distinguishes him from all other wanna-be gods, understanding that he is holy and they are not and that he is in the highest place and they are not, nor will they ever be.

All kinds of spiritual entities want to put themselves above the God of heaven. So do deceived human beings who think they can become a god. The prayer sets the correct perspective. He is God and there is no other. This is the way it is and the way it shall always be.

Do you worship the God of heaven as your first priority? Do you recognize his supremacy over all things? Do you bow before His throne, knowing that He is seated far above all powers and spiritual entities? Do you know that only he is holy? Begin your prayer in this way, just as the Lord taught.

The Prophetic Element

The second statement in this prayer is the only prophetic element it contains. It is also the highest priority of the prayer, second only to the worship of God. It conveys a vision towards a destiny that absolutely will be fulfilled… the future realization of God’s kingdom in its fullness.

All Christians everywhere and in every generation are to look prayerfully forward to the coming Kingdom of God. We state this request every time we pray this prayer, but do we understand what we are asking for? This is the final reality, the culmination of all history, the delivery of all promises. God’s kingdom will come in accordance with His will, nothing can stop it, and will happen soon.

Do you have a place in God’s Kingdom? Not everyone does. Do you long for it, reject it, or do you dread it? Entrance into the kingdom of God does have a key requirement: your repentance and complete trust in Christ as your Savior. This is the gospel. Please see the “Steps to Eternal Life” page.

The coming Kingdom of God is what this site is all about. Seek to understand the prophetic priority about which you pray when you say this prayer.

The Will of God Done on the Earth

God’s will in heaven is instantly and perfectly accomplished. This is not so on the earth… yet. That’s because sinful people with free will are involved. We are all sinners living in a time of grace, a time in which anyone who calls upon the Name of the Lord will be saved. We have the opportunity to meet the requirements for entry into God’s kingdom through our repentance and complete trust in Christ.

We have been told what God’s will is throughout the scriptures. Many reject the will of God and pursue sin. This is not God’s will. It is also not God’s will when someone becomes terminally sick. It is not God’s will when someone is killed by a drunk driver or murdered. Several children died recently in a flood in Eastern Kentucky. I am from Kentucky and have been in that area several times. It was not God’s will that these children died.

Most tragedies occur because of our own sinful inclinations; because we reject God’s ways. Some tragedies are the result of accidents. The question is not why these things happen. Many are looking for the slightest reason to dismiss God. On one hand, we want him to micromanage the bad things and when he does not intervene, we accuse him of injustice or evil and reject him. But then we want him out of the way when we choose our own way and make profoundly bad, immoral decisions.

Think bigger picture. Ask the right questions. “Why does God allow bad things to happen” is not the right question. The right question is: “where do you stand with God”? You will stand before God and give an account for your life. Life is short. Make sure you are ready for that day.

Jesus made it very simple when he said that the will of God is to believe in the one whom he had sent (Jesus Christ) as stated in John 6:29.

Are you doing the will of God? Do you trust in Jesus Christ?

Soon the will of God will be done on the earth just as it is in heaven. Instantly and in full compliance. The day is coming in which God will judge the world. His will shall be imposed. It’s best to submit to God’s will now.

Pray the above prayer today and think about the implications of what you are asking of God when you pray it.