“I’m fairly sure we’ve talked about this before,” Stan began one morning, “but there are some things I think that are worth repeating.”
“And you’ve got one of those,” I said with a smile. “What’s up?”
“You know that part in Matthew’s gospel where Jesus was teaching His disciples how to pray?”
“A little,” I replied. “Isn’t that where once after Jesus had finished praying that one of the disciples came to Him and asked that He teach them how to pray?”
“That’s it,” Stan said. “Some people call it ‘The Lord’s Prayer,’ some call it ‘The Disciples’ Prayer,’ others refer to it as ‘The Our Father.’ Whatever it’s called, Jesus gave some fundamental instruction about approaching God the Father in prayer and in being open to His movement in a very personal way.”
“His movement in a personal way,” I repeated. “How so?”
“What I want to look at,” Stan replied, “is the part about praying that the Father’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
“What about it?”
“I like to add, ‘Beginning with me’,” Stan replied.
“Beginning with you?”
“Yeah,” he said. “I find that if I ask the Father for His will to be done here as it is in heaven, and if I surrender myself to Him so His will is done in and through me, a whole lot of good stuff happens!”
“That sounds kind of like praying like a disciple,” I replied.
“In what way?” Stan asked.
“If I get myself out of God’s way by denying myself, then take up what He has for me to take up, and then follow Him wherever He wants to lead, there’s more likelihood that His will is going to be done here on earth in and through me.”
“I think you’re right,” Stan replied. “That’s exactly why I like to pray this prayer and add, ‘beginning with me,’ when I ask for God’s will to be done here as in heaven.”
“It just occurred to me,” I commented in response, “that if everyone prayed that way, this world might be a whole lot better. You think that’s true?”
“Why don’t we give it a try!” Stan replied with a smile. “Sure can’t hurt.”
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Bible verses to consider:
And it came about that while He was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.” Luke 11:1.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10.
And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” Luke 9:23.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, that your will is done in heaven and that you want it done here on earth just as well. I confess that there are too many times when I choose not for your will to be done in and through me because I want my will apart from yours to be done. Please forgive that foolishness and please help me to follow every step of your lead so that your will is done in and through me here on earth just as it is in heaven. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Do you know you will spend eternity in God’s presence and be able to observe firsthand His will being done in heaven? If no, why? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with God’s will being done in and through you on earth as it is in heaven? If you sense the need for change regarding God’s will being done how is that change going to happen? Is that what you want? Why or why not?
Waiting for the Train 