Sunday, August 15, 2010

August 15 (Matthew 6:10)

Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (NIV)

For many Christians, this is a prayer of request for blessing. We are suffering in a particular way and are sure that this must not be the will of God, Who we are sure would want us to enjoy only a smooth, comfortable life. Therefore, we pray that His will be done, for in this we are confident that our situation will improve.

St. Cyprian, a third century Christian leader and writer, saw it a bit differently. He wrote that we do not pray for God to do what He wants, but that we may be able to do what God wants, for he rightly points out that no one can block the will of God. We, however, are often blocked by Satan and our own sinful nature. We need divine assistance to do what God would have us do. When we pray for the will of God to be done on earth as in heaven, we are praying that God will grant us the grace to be like angels, who without hesitation do His bidding. We are praying for the grace to be like Christ Himself, Who was obedient to the will of our Father to the point of death.

Father, forgive me when I have treated the riches of Your blessing as a storehouse of magical cures for whatever ails me. Help to focus not on my own sufferings, but on You and Your perfect will. May Your will be done through me, a ready and willing vessel made in Your image and purified through the blood of the Lamb for accomplishing Your good works. Amen.
Copyright © 2010 by Steven R. Perkins

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