Wednesday, January 4, 2023

             In Matthew 6, Jesus gave us a lesson on prayer.  We commonly call His teachings “The Lord’s Prayer.”  And the prayer that Jesus gave is a perfect example for us to study and follow as we seek to pray each day.  No book you read will ever give better guidance for praying than what Jesus offered in His model prayer.  Near the beginning of the prayer, Jesus said, “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:9).  The King James Bible reads, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.”  The expression “thy will be done” is a powerful one!  And frankly, I’m not sure there is much else for us to pray...thy will be done.  Say it now, “thy will be done.”  I have found myself, in recent days, praying “thy will be done” maybe more than ever.  Often, we lack clarity or discernment about what to do or how to proceed.  When the road ahead is unclear, praying for “thy will to be done” is a statement of faith and trust in God and His providence and sovereignty over all things.   
            When we commit something to the Lord’s will, we release our control and anxiety to Him.  We trust all to Him.  We often sing “I surrender all.”  When we ask for His will to be done, then we have truly surrendered all to Him.  “Thy will be done” is incredibly simple to read and say.  But it is a profound statement of trust!  When we pray “thy will be done,” we are asking for God’s ways and path and nothing less.  We are willing to let go of control, our agendas, our wishes and even our dreams.  There could be areas of your life where you simply need to pray “thy will be done” over them.  As we begin a new calendar year, one resolution could be for 2023 to be a year of “thy will be done.”  What would your life look like on December 31 if you cultivated the spiritual discipline of praying “thy will be done?”
            When we pray “thy will be done,” we are acknowledging that God has the help, provisions and power that we need.  We are recognizing our total dependence upon Him.  He gives us His Word.  We enjoy the company of His Holy Spirit each day.  We have the assurance of the cross and empty tomb.  We know He will work all things for His glory and our good (Romans 8:28).  We are already far richer than we often realize.  To pray “thy will be done” means we are letting go of our feeble power and resources and trusting His almighty power. 
            We cannot see the future in any way—not tomorrow, next month or even the next minute.  We navigate our way into the future knowing that He will be with us.  When Moses stared at the Red Sea before him and the Egyptian army behind him, he said to the people, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:14).  Another “thy will be done” moment.  Today, we can get lost in battles and trials—even to the point we feel like we can’t swim or breathe our way to safety.  The solution lies in being still and knowing that God is still a fighter for His people.  We are not alone.  Calm your anxiousness by praying “thy will be done.”  Trust the battle or the struggle to Him and watch in amazement as He parts the waters that you are swimming against or protects you against the enemies and trials that you are facing.  J. B. Phillips warned many years ago that most believers hold to a view of God that is way too small.  May your view of God not be small today or ever.  May you see the greatness of God and His will as you seek Him.  Have a wonderful Wednesday!  Remember to join us after worship on Sunday for our communal lunch.  Bring a dish or two to share and we will enjoy fellowship and conversation around the tables together!