As we have been studying the Lord’s Prayer, it began with placing God in His rightful position. The prayer then turns to requesting God for our needs. What are those needs most urgent: life sustaining provision, forgiveness, and protection. Without these, we cannot survive. But with these, what are we really asking God for? Some would try to say, “Ok, God, I have rightly glorified you in my prayer first, so give me all I ask for”. But that would be wrong! In fact, if we think in that manner, we really haven’t understood or truly placed God on the throne. This is not some magical formula for getting what we want. Instead, it is recognizing His Place as Sovereign Lord over our life. If we truly do that, then our requests become very humble. Give us day by day our daily bread (Luke 11:3).
Do You Mean It When You Pray Thy Will Be Done?
As we continue through the Lord’s Prayer, we come to “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). Perhaps it is very easy to say, “I trust God. And I want His will to be done in my life and on earth.” However, what if His plan in my life includes that battle with Icancer, the death of a loved one, a divorce I never wanted or planned for? What if my finances are turned upside down or I find myself without a job. Do I really “Thy Will Be Done”?
Furthermore, do I really believe that God IS fully Sovereign. And that He rewards those who diligently seek Him. When life’s storms rage around me, do I believe? Or when I see the spiritual battle raging within our own nation, do I really mean it when I pray, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10)?
When I look at the world around me, filled with injustice, do I truly believe that God has a perfect plan here and now? He has said, “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:3). Do I cry forth like Habakkuk, “O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! Even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! (Habakkuk 1:2). However, after his discussion with God, Habakkuk surrendered to God’s will as we see in Habakkuk 3:17-19.
Trusting in His Plan
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How to Live in Joyful Expectation of God’s Kingdom
When we look around us at all the evil, the bitterness, anger, and hatred, we plead “thy kingdom come!” (Matthew 6:10). We look within our own hearts, longing to know the transformation is complete, loathing our own failures. So, how are we to live in joyful expectation of God’s Kingdom? Is it possible to know the righteousness, peace, and joy of God’s Kingdom here and now? For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost (Romans 14:17). However, we live in a world so filled with concerns, work, finances, relationships, and obligations. Furthermore, we live in an earthly body so filled with desires for pride, self-exaltation; wrought with frailties. Therefore, how can we live a life filled with joyful expectation of God’s Kingdom; while facing so many obstacles without and within?
Although, we may fully understand that Christ has won the victory once and for all against sin, death, and destruction. Yet, anyone who has lived the Christian life for any length of time knows all too well the moments of our own failure to love as we should, forgive others, or even trust God. Longing for that day, we cry out as Paul did. “Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. (Romans 8: 21-23).
God’s Kingdom
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Have You Ever Considered When Loss is Gain?
When Loss is Gain
As I look back upon my life
The times of joy and times of strife
How could I cry for any loss?
Once I have gazed upon Thy Cross
How could I ever dare complain?
About life’s sorrows, tears and pains
When You so freely took my shame
Upon Yourself removed my blame
Because from sin You set me free
I now thy willing servant be
So, pierce my heart-declare me thine
And purge all selfish thought of mine
If all I have, You choose to take
That Glory bring for your namesake
Allow me gaze upon Thy Face
Thy eyes of love, thy smile of Grace
I do not know what life may bring
Prepare my heart to always sing
A Song of joy, abounding praise
Amidst the billows storms may raise
For you my precious, Lord and King
Will lift me high on eagle’s wing
To soar above this world below
And cast aside the grief and woe
Philippians 3: 7-10
7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death
Just to know you Lord is to gain the greatest treasure. All else, is loss.
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR?
If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. Because there is nothing more important than this, I urge you to seek Him today.
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Previous Posts
How to Really Honor God: Hallowed Be Thy Name
POEMS
How to Live a Life of Grace as God’s Beloved
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2018
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Footnotes and Credits
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How to Really Honor God; Hallowed be Thy Name
Hallowed: Honored as holy, revered and respected. As Jesus provided us with a blueprint on how to pray, He prayed: “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name” (Matthew 6:9). Our intimate heavenly Father, all powerful creator of heaven and earth who reigns upon His throne in heaven over all the affairs of men, honor and glory be unto your name. We need to pause and consider the very depth of those words. The word hallowed appears in the New Testament only in the Lord’s Pray (Matthew 6 and Luke 11). Can we really honor God and Hallow His name? We must look to Old Testament to fully grasp the depth of what Jesus spoke of in this verse.
Hallowed be thy name, Lord, in my heart, my spirit, and my life. Lift up within me your name high above all other names in honor, glory and praise. But how do I do that?
Honor God within your Heart
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