Submission - Matthew 6:10

"Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." - Matthew 6:10

When we pray, we see at least one, many times both, of these things happen: God changes things, or He changes us. God brings His kingdom, and His Will is done by either changing our circumstances or changing our hearts. When we pray with an attitude of submission, we ask God to reign in our hearts and do His Will in our lives. J. I. Packer says it best:"God's kingdom is not a place, but rather a relationship. It exists wherever people enthrone Jesus as Lord of their lives."

God's kingdom comes, and His Will is done when we choose to submit in obedience to what He has asked us to do. Unfortunately, we stumble over what it means to do God's Will in our finiteness. We want a blueprint for our lives of precisely what God is asking us to do but God doesn't give us that. Why? If we had a blueprint for our lives, how would we learn to walk in faith, trust, and submission in who God is?

Instead, God gives us all we need: Himself and His word. His call upon our lives is not to figure out the blueprint before we decide but instead to walk in obedience to His Word. The Bible clearly states three things that are the Will of God:

• God's Will is that you be Saved- 2 Peter 3:9- "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance."

• God's Will is that you be Sanctified- 1 Thessalonians 4:3- "For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality."

• God's Will is that you be Thankful - 1 Thessalonians 5:18 – "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

"Live for God. Obey the Scriptures. Think of others before yourself. Be holy. Love Jesus. And as you do these things, do whatever else you like, with whomever you like, wherever you like, and you'll be walking in the Will of God" – Kevin DeYoung.

Resources

Song- The Lord's Prayer - by Shane and Shane

Books-

• Praying the Lord's Prayer by J. I. Packer

• Just Do Something by Kevin DeYoung

Podcast - A Paradigm for Prayer - Pray the Word by David Platt

Reflection Questions:

• How have you seen God change you through prayer?

• How can you walk in God’s Will for your life?