Robert’s Kingdom Go
Most of the days I’ve been alive (which is bunches because I’ve been alive since January 1973), I’ve prayed what people tend to call The Lord’s Prayer. Heck, most of the Sundays I’ve been on earth, I’ve prayed the Prayer with other people. Out loud. That’s weird.
In case you’ve forgotten it, here’s a popular version:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’”
I don’t think there’s any other words I can make that claim about… I’m just going to sit here a moment and let that sink in.
Yet, I perpetually miss the power of the Prayer of Jesus I’m praying.
Your kingdom come… I’m asking the God I see through Jesus to come run things in this world and in my life. To pray this means praying my kingdom go. I will say this again: To pray for God’s rule to come involves praying that I give up my rule.
Whether I admit it or not, the default perspective for my life is to look at what I like and want, and then I ask God to come and like that stuff and give me more of it. Basically, that’s Robert’s kingdom come.
It’s also backward. Completely. The perspective of The Lord’s Prayer is to learn God’s desires and likes, and to work them out through my life. That’s the very meaning of your kingdom come.
It doesn’t mean God and I never agree. It means God is calling the shots.
How can we so often miss this?
In case you’ve forgotten it, here’s a popular version:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’”
I don’t think there’s any other words I can make that claim about… I’m just going to sit here a moment and let that sink in.
Yet, I perpetually miss the power of the Prayer of Jesus I’m praying.
Your kingdom come… I’m asking the God I see through Jesus to come run things in this world and in my life. To pray this means praying my kingdom go. I will say this again: To pray for God’s rule to come involves praying that I give up my rule.
Whether I admit it or not, the default perspective for my life is to look at what I like and want, and then I ask God to come and like that stuff and give me more of it. Basically, that’s Robert’s kingdom come.
It’s also backward. Completely. The perspective of The Lord’s Prayer is to learn God’s desires and likes, and to work them out through my life. That’s the very meaning of your kingdom come.
It doesn’t mean God and I never agree. It means God is calling the shots.
How can we so often miss this?