When most of us think about prayer, we think of all the things we need to pray about. Family, friends, troubles, personal needs, leadership challenges, hiring decisions…the list is endless. Without even realizing it, our prayers begin and end with a focus on us, and what’s important to us.
But that’s not how Jesus taught us to pray. Yes, we are instructed to present our needs to God, but we are first called to a relationship with God through prayer. In fact, the opening words of The Lord’s Prayer begin with a focus on God’s Name, God’s Kingdom, and God’s Will.
“Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9-10)
I’ve already shared what Jesus said about how not to pray and prayer as a relationship, not a transaction. Jesus made it clear who we are praying to before he addressed what we should pray for. But then Jesus moves to a focus on Kingdom and Will.
Whose kingdom?
Whose will?
As leaders, this is an especially important question. Too often we are tempted to build our own kingdoms. Too often we exert our will for our own personal gain. But as author Warren Wiersbe so accurately observed, “We have no right to ask God for anything that will dishonor His name, delay His kingdom, or disturb His will on earth.”
So, what exactly did Jesus mean when he said to pray for God’s kingdom to come and God’s will to be done? Let’s talk first about God’s Kingdom…a common theme throughout Jesus’ teaching.
When we hear the word “kingdom,” our tendency is to think of a territory or even a piece of real estate. But a kingdom wasn’t usually a reference to a territory; instead, it was a reference to the rule and reign of a king. In other words, you could just as easily translate “Kingdom of God” as the “Rule of God.” In Matthew 6:33, Jesus said,
“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”
Jesus wasn’t saying to seek out a territory or a place, but rather to seek out the rule and reign of God in and over your life.
With that understanding, look again at the first part of verse 10 in the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus said, “May your kingdom come soon.” In other words, “May the rule and reign of God in and over your life come quickly.” The point is clear: “Your Kingdom come” is a prayer of continual surrender and submission to Jesus as King.
[bctt tweet=”Your Kingdom come is a prayer of continual surrender and submission to Jesus as King.” username=”stephenblandino”]
Jesus continues his instruction on prayer with these words: “May your will be done on earth,as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10b).
This statement is what is often referred to as a parallelism. In other words, Hebrews would often use different words to communicate the same idea twice. They would say it one way, and then repeat the same idea with different words. So, when Jesus says, “May your will be done,” He was saying the same thing expressed by “Your kingdom come.” Jesus was telling us to pray, “Lord, your perfect will is done in the place where you are King, so let your perfect will be done in my life where you are King.” Again, this is a prayer of submission to King Jesus and His perfect will.
Jesus concludes this portion of the prayer with a powerful phrase—“on earth, as it is in heaven.” Prayer is how we bring a taste of heaven to earth.
What is it like in heaven?
In heaven there is perfect peace, complete healing, unconditional love…and so much more. In heaven, there is no pride, jealousy, hatred, racism, sickness, greed, or pain. When Jesus says, “Your kingdom come your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven,” He’s saying, “The way it is in heaven,” pray it would be like that on earth.
A Challenge to Leaders
I believe this portion of Jesus’ instructions on prayer provide two profound lessons for leaders. Both of these lessons will shape how you lead and how you pray.
1. Prayer brings our life and leadership into continual submission to Christ
In leadership, you will face a constant temptation to use your influence for selfish gain. Pride and self-centered kingdom building must come under the Lordship of Jesus. This isn’t a once-and-done prayer. It’s a daily submission of our kingdom to His Kingdom and of our will to His will.
2. Prayer aligns your leadership with the redemptive purposes of God
God’s purpose for leadership was, and always will be, redemptive in nature. God’s plan for leadership is to meet needs, solve problems, and add beauty to the world. By submitting to Christ’s continual Lordship—praying your kingdom come and your will be done—we align our God-given leadership with His redemptive purposes. A taste of heaven can come to earth when our self-centeredness doesn’t get in the way. A taste of heaven can come to earth when His kingdom and His will take priority in and through our leadership.
[bctt tweet=”A taste of heaven can come to earth when our self-centeredness doesn’t get in the way.” username=”stephenblandino”]
When was the last time you prayed that big? A prayer of submission to Christ is not a weak prayer. A prayer that aligns your leadership with the redemptive purposes of God is not a wimpy prayer. When you “pray like this,” you pray the bravest prayer. As Robert Law observed, “Prayer is a mighty instrument, not for getting man’s will done in heaven, but for getting God’s will done on earth.”
