Pray God’s Kingdom

Devotional Reading: Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:8‭-‬10 ESV

One of the most important things about spending time with the person you love is the attention you pay to them while they share what’s in their heart with you. The disciples spent a lot of time with Jesus and the time caused them to want to know more. They had seen him do many miracles and wonders, they had seen him spend countless hours in prayer, and so they wanted to tap into his heart, and they asked Jesus to teach them to pray –

“Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:8-10 (NIV)

Jesus then ventured out to give them the model of prayer that would revolutionize not only their lives but ours also; it is a prayer we are still praying over two thousand years later – Heaven Come! I find it interesting that Jesus did not teach the disciples to pray for themselves or their needs first, but the priority of the prayer was that God’s name would forever be kept Holy and then for God’s domain to reach ours – “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,” (Matthew 6:9 NIV). How powerful is that? So often we approach prayer for our needs only, but true prayer pushes past our agendas to get to the heart of the King. I know there are all types of prayers and at different times in our lives we may have different needs, and that may drive the direction of our prayers, but as a believer growing and maturing in the Lord, our prayers now should always be shaped by the priority of what is on God’s heart.

You may ask the question, “Well if I don’t pray for my needs how will they be met?” But just before Jesus introduced the model prayer to his disciples, he reminded them their heavenly Father knows what they have need of even before they ask Him. “Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Matthew 6:8-10 NIV). God wants us to know that he cares about our needs like an earthly parent cares for their children, so our requirements need not be the priority on our prayer list. But desiring God’s name and kingdom to reach earth is by far the most excellent prayer we could ever pray. If you have never prayed this way before, today I want to encourage you to take just a few minutes and ask God to share his heart with you so you can bring heaven to earth.

Prayer and Confession
Jesus help me to recognize that your agenda for the world comes first during my time of prayer. And help me see with the eyes of faith that my needs are your concerns as well, Amen.

Further Reading: 1Thessalonians 5:17