5/5 Daily in the Word

How to Pray-Part 2
Matthew 6:10

Even though it may contradict your personal will, God's will is best.

Throughout time many preachers have taught on the subject of prayer. What is prayer? How should we pray? What is the result of prayer? How can prayer help us as believers? The following are a few quotes from pastors about the power of prayer:

"Next to the wonder of seeing my Saviour will be, I think, the wonder that I made so little use of the power of prayer." -D.L. Moody

"You can do more than pray, after you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed."-John Bunyan

"What the church needs today is not more or better machinery, not new organizations, or more novel methods; but men whom the Holy Spirit can use-men of prayer, men mighty in prayer."-E.M. Bounds

While all these men have profound wisdom on the power of prayer, no greater commentary or advice on prayer is given than that of Jesus as recorded in Matthew 6. His prayer shows us exactly how to approach God, what to ask for, and how to act after prayer. First, we should approach with reverence, remembering we are in the very presence of God. Second, notice Matthew 6:10 for what we should pray.

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

Thy kingdom come. The phrase "Thy kingdom come" in context of the time period, certainly has references to the coming kingdom of heaven. Jesus points to the future kingdom of God and instructs us to pray for God's will to be done. He desires for us to pray for the will of God to come in the world around us.

It's no secret our world is in a declining state of entropy, as science would say, that is, a state of degeneration or of getting worse. From the morals and conduct of others to the twisted views and actions of some, there is no question our world is declining. But that should fuel our prayers for the rapid coming of the kingdom of God. We should not look at the decline of the world around us, but at the glory of God's future.

Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. God has a will, or a plan, for your life specifically. Everything that happens, good or bad, happens for a reason. Many times you won't understand the meaning behind events, and you may struggle to see God's hand in certain events, but through it all, God is in control.

God desires that you would give up looking for meaning or struggling to find answers, and pray that whatever happens, God's will would be done. Even if His will means trials and struggles, pray that it would be done. Even if His will means not accomplishing your own will, pray that it would be done.

Do you pray with God's will in mind? Do you desire for His will to be done in the coming of His kingdom and in your personal life? Sometimes we can become so caught up with the affairs of this world, that we forget this world is not our home. No matter what happens, remember that God's will is always best.

Daily Bible Reading
1 Kings 19-20 | Luke 23:1-25

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