Lesson Four • The Lord’s Prayer – Part One
Devotion 4: Authority to Accomplish

Pastor John Carter

“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10

Today we are going to walk through four words, “your will be done.” Putting these instructions that Jesus gives us about prayer into practice is going to be very hard. Honestly, most of the time when we approach God in prayer, it is usually because we want to convince God to act on our behalf. I am just as guilty of this as anyone. Jesus is pointing us to the very aspect of prayer that is so critical; we need to be willing to walk in the will of God.

The line in this verse, ultimately, is showing us Who has authority and power in our life. It is not just some authority or power but all authority and power. It is “your will be done.”

Meditate on those words for a second and consider your prayer life. Is there a semblance of God’s will at the forefront of your conversation? Our prayers could begin with, “God, I do not like pain and I do not want heartache. I want what is best for my life and no one knows what the best thing for my life is but You. So, whatever Your will is, I am in!”

This is probably one of the hardest realities of prayer that we need to come to grips with. It seems so much on the opposite spectrum of what prayer is. If prayer is just an avenue to tell God how we want things to be, then this concept is definitely going to feel, taste, and sound like insanity. Our mindset should be that regardless of the outcome, regardless of the result, if it goes the way I want or not, God I desire your will above anything else!

Can I actually pray that and have it be genuine and real? Can I trust God with my kids, wife, work, and life? Can I trust Him to really be the God that promises He will never leave me or forsake me? Can I trust Him to be my shelter and place of refuge? Can I trust God to be my rest, my shield from fiery arrows, and my strength? Can I trust Him to be my comfort, encouragement, and hope? I can go on and on with these questions. Hopefully, you will see that these questions encompass all of one’s being. Think this through when you are confronted with the question, “Can I put my all in the hands of God?” Under those conditions, I need we need to say, “Your will be done!” If you are anything like me, there are probably areas in your life where you still feel like you need to dictate to God the way it should be done. It is probably a major source of stress and anxiety for you. I know it is hard for me. Maybe today you can take that particular area of your life and say to God, our Father, “Your will be done.”

Hebrews 13:20-21 says, “Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

As Jesus is teaching us how to pray in Matthew chapter 6, this part of the lesson is a very critical aspect of His teaching. It is our will versus God’s will. Which one is the most important to you? This is something that can easily cause us to dig even deeper, not just in aspects of prayer. Are we walking in areas that are contrary to the Lord? Have we surrendered every area of our life to the mighty, awesome God, who desires the love and adoration of His children? He wants all of our heart, soul, and mind!

Take some time today to ask God to show you the areas in your life you are still clinging to. Maybe, ask God to show you where you are insisting on your own will and not God’s will. Be prepared and know the answer the Lord shows you may not be easy. I hope and pray today was an encouraging and edifying devotion. I am going to leave you with a passage from Proverbs 2:1-5, “My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.”