In this insightful article titled “Praying With A Kingdom Perspective: Lessons From The Lord’s Prayer – Matthew 6:10,” you will dive into the profound teachings of the Lord’s Prayer and discover valuable lessons on how to approach your prayers with a Kingdom perspective. Exploring the powerful words of Matthew 6:10, you will gain a deeper understanding of aligning your prayers with the will of God and seeking His Kingdom’s values and priorities. Through this captivating exploration, you will be equipped with practical insights to enhance your prayer life and experience the transformative power of praying with a Kingdom perspective.
Understanding the Context
Before delving into the different aspects of the Lord’s Prayer, it is essential to understand the context in which it was given. The Lord’s Prayer, also known as the Our Father, was taught by Jesus as part of His Sermon on the Mount, a profound teaching addressing various aspects of the Christian life. In Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus provides a model prayer to guide His followers on how to approach God and seek His will. This prayer serves as a foundation for a Kingdom perspective in our prayers, aligning our hearts and minds with God’s purposes.
Introduction to the Lord’s Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer is a beautiful and timeless prayer that has been recited by Christians for centuries. It serves as a blueprint for our communication with God, encompassing various aspects of our relationship with Him. The prayer begins with acknowledging God’s authority and holiness, then transitions into praying for the manifestation of His Kingdom on earth. Finally, it concludes with a plea for His guidance and protection. Through this prayer, we learn valuable lessons about our role as believers and our posture towards God.
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Acknowledging God’s Authority and Holiness
Recognizing God’s Sovereignty
The first step in praying with a Kingdom perspective is acknowledging God’s sovereignty. When we say, “Our Father in heaven,” we recognize that God is not just a figurehead, but the ultimate authority over all creation. He is the ruler of the universe, and everything that exists is under His control. By acknowledging God’s sovereignty, we humble ourselves and acknowledge that we are dependent on His guidance and provision.
Esteeming God’s Holiness
In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus instructs us to pray, “Hallowed be Your name.” This line emphasizes the holiness of God’s name. To hallow something means to set it apart as sacred and worthy of reverence. When we esteem God’s holiness, we acknowledge His perfect nature and separate Him from anything that is impure or unworthy. This recognition of His holiness compels us to approach Him with reverence and awe.
Seeking His Kingdom
Finally, in this section of the Lord’s Prayer, we are encouraged to pray for the coming of God’s Kingdom. As believers, our ultimate desire should be for God’s Kingdom to be established on earth, just as it is in heaven. Seeking His Kingdom means prioritizing His reign and His will above all else. It is a prayer for God’s rule and righteousness to be manifested in every area of our lives and in society as a whole.
Recognizing God’s Sovereignty
The Kingdom as God’s Reign
When we pray for God’s Kingdom to come, we are essentially praying for His reign to be established. The Kingdom of God refers to the realm where God’s will is done and His authority is acknowledged. It is not a physical place but a spiritual reality that transcends earthly boundaries. Praying for the Kingdom is an acknowledgement that we desire and long for God’s perfect rule to be manifested in our lives and in the world.
God’s Authority Over All Creation
Recognizing God’s sovereignty means acknowledging that He has authority over all creation. From the smallest details of our lives to the vastness of the universe, God is in control. Nothing happens without His knowledge or permission. This understanding should bring us comfort and confidence in our prayers, knowing that we are appealing to the One who has power over all things.
Submitting to God’s Will
As we pray for God’s Kingdom to come, we are also submitting ourselves to His will. Praying “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” is an act of surrender, acknowledging that God’s plans and purposes are ultimately what is best for us and for the world. When we submit to His will, we align ourselves with His purposes and invite Him to work through us to bring about His Kingdom on earth.
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Esteeming God’s Holiness
God’s Perfect Nature
God is holy, meaning He is completely separate from sin and evil. His nature is pure, righteous, and without blemish. When we esteem God’s holiness, we recognize that He is perfect in every way and that His ways are higher than our ways. This knowledge should humble us and cause us to approach Him with reverence and awe.
Approaching God with Reverence
Praying “Hallowed be Your name” is a declaration of the reverence and respect we have for God. By acknowledging His holiness, we are reminded of His greatness and our own unworthiness. Approaching God with reverence means recognizing that we are entering into His presence and that we should come before Him with a humble and contrite heart.
Aligning Our Lives with His Holiness
Esteeming God’s holiness should also lead us to align our lives with His standard of righteousness. We cannot claim to revere God’s holiness while living in disobedience to His commands. Instead, we should strive to live in a way that reflects His character, seeking to be holy as He is holy. This means pursuing righteousness, embracing His truth, and walking in obedience to His word.
Seeking His Kingdom
Prioritizing God’s Kingdom
Praying for God’s Kingdom to come requires a shift in priorities. Instead of focusing solely on our own needs and desires, we are called to prioritize God’s Kingdom above all else. This means seeking first His righteousness and His rule in our lives. When we align our priorities with God’s, we position ourselves to be used by Him to bring about His Kingdom purposes on earth.
Growing the Kingdom through Obedience
Seeking God’s Kingdom also involves actively participating in its growth. We do this by obeying His commands and living in accordance with His teachings. Our obedience becomes a testimony to the world and a means through which God’s Kingdom advances. As we walk in obedience, we become instruments of His love, grace, and truth, drawing others towards His Kingdom.
Desiring God’s Will to Be Done
Ultimately, seeking God’s Kingdom means desiring His will to be done above our own. It is a surrender of our own plans and preferences to the greater purpose of God. This requires trust and faith in His wisdom and goodness. Praying for God’s will to be done is an act of trust, acknowledging that His ways are higher and His plans are perfect.
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Praying for Kingdom Manifestation on Earth
Thy Kingdom Come
The line “Thy Kingdom come” in the Lord’s Prayer encapsulates the heart’s cry for the manifestation of God’s rule and reign on earth. It is an expression of our longing for God’s Kingdom to be established in every aspect of our lives and in the world around us. When we pray for His Kingdom to come, we invite His transformative power to bring about His purposes on earth.
Understanding the Kingdom’s Arrival
The arrival of God’s Kingdom is both a present reality and a future hope. Through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, the Kingdom of God has been inaugurated. Jesus brought the Kingdom near and demonstrated its power through His ministry. However, its full realization is yet to come, as we await the Second Coming of Christ when God’s Kingdom will be fully established on earth.
Praying for God’s Rule in Our Lives
When we pray for God’s Kingdom to come, we are also inviting His rule and reign into our own lives. We are recognizing that apart from Him, we cannot experience the abundant life He has intended for us. By surrendering our lives to Him and praying for His Kingdom to be manifest in us, we open ourselves up to His transformative work and His purposes in and through us.
Conclusion
Praying with a Kingdom perspective is more than just reciting the words of the Lord’s Prayer; it is about aligning our hearts and minds with God’s purposes and priorities. By acknowledging God’s authority and holiness, seeking His Kingdom, and praying for His rule to be manifested on earth, we position ourselves to be used by Him to bring about His purposes. Let us approach prayer with a Kingdom perspective, desiring His will above all else, and anticipating the full establishment of His Kingdom on earth.
