This evening during our bedtime routine my seven year old and I made an agreement to teach my two year old The Lord’s Prayer. We decided to begin immediately. As we began to recite each line and await our student’s response I began to reflect on each line…Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done.
I paused for a moment as I began to consider the gravity of such a declaration. I had to ask myself if I really wanted God’s will to be done. If I were to examine my behavior and actions would they reflect the submission of my will to that of the Father’s? The honest answer would be that I, like many, have been inconsistent. It has been a matter of convenience and all too often I have ignored what I know to be God’s will because it might put me in an uncomfortable position or cause me to rely on something besides my own understanding. However, the desire to be found pleasing in His sight is far greater and offers a more gracious and valuable reward. So, what exactly does God’s will entail?
The will can be defined as desire; decision-making capacity; by choice, without reluctance. Often, we pray one of three ways. First, we pray for God to lead or guide us in a particular matter or situation and never inquire as to what His will is for us. Second, we ask God to reveal, or make His will known to us and we merely attempt to include God into our will. Or finally, we ask to be taught to do God’s will.
When we pray for guidance we are not trusting the Lord. The steps of a good man are ordered, not guided, by the Lord. On the occasions that we desire knowledge of God’s will it is useless for us to ask for any such revelation when we have no intention of being completely obedient. However, when we seek to be taught how to do God’s will we become tremendously useful to the kingdom. The psalmist David requested on numerous occasions to be taught to do the master’s will. (Psalm 51:12; 143:10) As such, he was described as a man after God’s own heart. Even when he sinned his desire to reconcile his broken relationship was so great that he readily submitted his will.
God teaches us in three ways. First, by his word. Secondly, he illuminates our minds by the Spirit. Thirdly, he imprints it in our hearts and maketh us obedient to the same; for the servant who knoweth the will of his master, and doeth it not, shall be beaten with many stripes: Luke 12:47.—Archibald Symson.—Treasury of David, The
Teach me to do thy will. We are to pray that God would teach us to know, and then teach us to do, his will. Knowledge without obedience is lame, obedience without knowledge is blind; and we must never hope for acceptance if we offer the blind and the lame to God.—Vincent Alsop (-1703), in “The Morning Exercises.”
—Treasury of David, The
Jesus said to Pilate: “Thou couldest have no power against Me, except it were given thee from above.” In everything that came on Him, He saw God’s will: it was all the cup the Father gave Him. When believers learn to see God’s will in everything that comes to us painful or pleasing, great or small, then the prayer, Thy will be done, becomes our unceasing expression of submission as well as praise!
My prayer is that as I make the petition, Thy will be done, that God continually transforms my will to His. The object of God’s will is holiness. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord…Hebrews 12:14.
