Matthew 6:9-10
Introduction
Knowing what the will of God is and accomplishing them has been one of the greatest struggles of Christian believers in particular and people generally. Questions like what is the will of God for me in the choice of marriage partner, career, school choices, crucial decisions like places to go, movies to watch and a lot of other things.
Christian counselors and professionals have been sought to give advise and direction on the of knowing what to do, when and how to do it.
Jesus teaches and modeled for us to pray to the Father in heaven “let your will be done on earth as in heaven” Matthew 6:10. So when in obedience we pray this prayer what does it means?
1.A recognition that we have a Father, who is Sovereign and desires to fulfill all His purposes on earth. Isaiah 46:9-11, God tells the people “Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. 10 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’ 11 From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do.”
2.Yielding our desires and submitting to overriding plans of God. In John 5:30 Jesus states “30By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.” This formed the focus of Jesus life and ministry on earth and I pray it will be ours. It became like food that nourished Jesus. In John 4:34 Jesus declared “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” Do you find it a delight to identify and follow the will of God? David said “I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.” Psalm 40:8
3.Align ourselves with the revealed will of God in the scriptures. This requires orienting the minds to understand and line up with the ways kingdom matters function.
We totally submit to God’s ways and plans because we trust He knows what is best for us. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
4. Submitting to outcomes that may be difficult.
Jesus prayed for the will of the Father to be done in the Garden of Gethsemane -In Matthew 26:39 Jesus prayed “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” It requires grace, courage and commitment to surrender to the will of God during difficult circumstances of life. Through Jesus obedience to death according to the determinate will of God many sons were brought to glory “10In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered.” Hebrews 2:10 NIV
5.Living to please God
Romans 12:1-2 says“1Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is your true and proper worship. 2Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Pray for grace to resist conformity with the patterns of this world. Pray that we may be transformed by the renewing of our minds through engaging with the word of God. Psalm 119:105 tells us “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path”
6. In heaven the angels of God carry out God’s command immediately, totally and joyfully. In the same manner God desires that His command and precepts be accomplished willingly, faithfully and joyfully by all especially by believers.
7.In submitting to God we can resist the devil
“7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. “James 4:7
Thy Will Be Done
