Daily Devotion, January 22, 2020

Devotion:

Read Matthew 6:10.

In Matthew 6:5-8, Jesus teaches his disciples “how not” and “how to” to pray. Jesus instructs his disciples to not pray to be seen and heard by others, and to not babble like the pagans who think they will be heard for their many words. Instead, Jesus says, pray in a place where you are not seen and realize your Father knows what you need even before you ask. These brief remarks, if we truly follow Jesus’ teachings, lead us into verses of “what to” pray with open hearts for God to accomplish what really needs to be accomplished in our lives and in the world.

So in this unseen place, we pray with sincerity---”Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” This prayer moves us from a place of self-centeredness to the place of being centered on God’s kingdom vision and will for the earth and all its inhabitants. Most importantly it moves our thinking from “our will” to God’s will. The irony of this prayer is as we focus on God’s will, it is incredibly healing for us and for the world. It’s consistent with Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 10:39, “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” 

Let us also hear Jesus’ teaching about the One who is listening to our prayer. Verse 8 says, “Your Father knows what you need before you ask.” Often we pray as if God is so far removed from us and so out of touch we forget this instruction. When my will is so stubborn about praying “Your kingdom come, your will be done,” I realize I have forgotten God’s very own characteristics of nearness, love and grace. When I remember, then my stubborn will is able to let go and sincerely pray this prayer. In the midst of this prayer, my eyes are opened to God’s will for the earth and its inhabitants to be a place of peace in the full assurance of God’s presence.

Personal Worship Option:

“Loving God, too often I want to control and worry about everything. My own stubborn will gets in the way of praying this prayer. Thank you for your forgiveness. Today help me to pray this prayer sincerely relinquishing my will to your will. ‘Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.’ Amen.”