“Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”

Matthew 6:10

God has 2 wills:

His revealed will.

His secret and sovereign will.

1. His revealed will.

This is his will seen in the story and guidance found in the 66 books of the Bible. God is clear about who he is, who we are, what he wants from us, what to do, what not to do and most importantly the Gospel of God’s grace given to sinners because of Jesus.

Jesus himself is also part of God’s revealed will. When we see him in the text we see what God is like: how he operates, what he values, what he wants.

We also see what God’s will looks like in a person.

2. His secret or sovereign will: 

This is God’s will in regard to the events of history and our lives. God is guiding history to his ultimate goals. He is working in the decisions of humanity and world events.

He is working in the events of our life even turning our successes, failures, and our peaks and valleys to our good.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28

This part of the Lord’s prayer

is about bringing these 2 wills

into alignment in history

and in our life.

So when we pray “Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” we are praying for Jesus to return and bring peace and blessing, to eliminate evil, sickness and sadness and tragedy forever.

Heaven is perfect because God’s revealed will is done perfectly, immediately and sincerely. This is why heaven is a place of peace and joy.

When we pray this,

ultimately we are praying for

him to come again to bring

heaven to earth.

But we can also pray this in our daily life. We can pray that God’s 2 wills will converge in our life: in our decisions, relationships, work, career, family and our future. This prayer can be prayed for purchases, financial decisions, problems, stresses, sickness, or trials.

This is one of my top prayers for All Souls church,

“May your will be done in this church on earth as it is in heaven.” 

Or our city,

“May your will be done in LA as it is in heaven.”

Internally, I pray this for myself, “May I do your will on earth as it is in heaven. Shape me by your Word and will to walk the path you have laid out for me. May my mind be conformed to your will.”

I pray this for Elder meetings, staff meetings, pastoral appointments, member interviews, hospital visits, lunch meetings, sermon prep etc.

At the end of the day

our will will be conformed

to his as we pray this. 

The world will one day be conformed to his will and our prayers will be part of the plan for his will to come to earth as it is in heaven.

Homework: Using the examples above, take 15 minutes this week to pray this prayer over all these areas in your life. 

Grace and peace, 

Pastor Harvey