Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
(Matthew 6:10 KJV)

This verse instructs us how to pray.  God desires that his will be done on earth as is in heaven.  How does this happen?  It happens when God’s will takes precedence over ours.

The commentator Matthew Henry once spoke about our life on this earth as being a “probationary trial.  Every person’s life is their opportunity to do what will prepare them for heaven.”   Such an interesting concept.  Everything we do in this world is actually on the job training for our ultimate role, to “reign with him” (2 Timothy 2:12)

So, what is this training program that will prepare us for heaven? It’s called discipleship.  The root word discipline suggests guidelines for our conduct and consequences for living outside of those reasonable requirements.   Jesus always applies discipline lovingly and compassionately, but he was the one who said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take us his cross and follow me (v, 4).  It is more about self-denial than self-fulfillment.

When you pray, “Thy will be done,” it often means that your will may not be done. Even Jesus told his Father that he did not want to die, but added it was not about what he wanted, but what his Father desired.  This is not a popular message in some parts of the church today, but popularity has never been a litmus test for Biblical truth. 

Is your prayer life conforming your will to God’s, or trying to do the opposite?  If the former is true, you are bringing a measure of heaven to earth and preparing yourself to rule and reign with Christ.  Not my will, Lord, but thine.

I worked for seventeen years as a missionary with Youth With A Mission.  My missionary work has taken me to Mexico, Canada, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Spain, and Ukraine.  I hold a Masters of Education in curriculum and instruction from Virginia Commonwealth University.  [email protected]