The Lord's Prayer: Kingdom Minded Prayers

"Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

When we pray, we connect with God not only as our loving Father but also as our Lord and King. This dual relationship means we approach Him with both intimacy and reverence.

Our Kingdom Identity in Prayer

As children of the King, it's our privilege and responsibility to seek the advance of His kingdom. Just as earthly heirs work to uphold their father's realm, we should earnestly strive for the growth and fulfillment of God's kingdom.

Approaching God as our King means recognizing His authority and sovereignty over our lives. It involves submitting to His will and aligning our thoughts, words, and actions with His divine purpose. When we embrace our role as His children and subjects, we become vessels through whom His will can manifest throughout the world.

Seeking God's Kingdom

As believers, we are citizens of both our earthly nation and the Kingdom of Heaven. Churches act as God's embassies on Earth. While earthly kingdoms rise and fall, the kingdom of Heaven is eternal. Before salvation, we each pursued our own desires, building personal kingdoms. However, we can't serve two kingdoms simultaneously; one will always take precedence.

Remember, when we come to God, He is both our Heavenly Father and King. This means He desires what's best for His children and His subjects. As the Kingdom of Heaven flourishes, so will our eternal lives.

Submitting to Our King's Will

His will shouldn't just be a notion; it should be a daily desire that realigns our actions toward Him. As God's ambassadors, we're called to serve Him and act on His behalf. When we stumble, the world sees not just a personal failing but a reflection of God's representatives. It becomes challenging to distinguish between people and God when we are instruments for carrying out His will. We also anticipate a future hope where God's kingdom will fully manifest on Earth as it is in Heaven. However, for the lost to partake in this future hope, they must surrender to the lordship of Christ.

Surrendering to the Gospel

Deep within every individual lies a longing for humanity to be reunited with God, as seen in the Garden of Eden. This yearning stems from an acknowledgment that something is amiss. We crave peace, universal order, and moral righteousness. Yet, despite ages of human development, we remain lost and aimless, continually trying to improve our condition. We still witness acts of murder, inequality, and war. Our longing for the Garden stems from the consciousness that our soul is still in exile due to our sin.

If you find yourself still seeking the kingdom to enter your life, there's a simple path:

• Admit that you've strayed from God's intended design for humanity and repent.

• Believe in the saving sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who willingly paid the debt of our sin on the cross. Through faith and trust in His work, we are brought into God's kingdom by confessing Jesus as both Lord and Savior.

‌Discussion Questions

1. Have you accepted the gospel, recognizing God as both your Savior and Lord?

2. Do your prayers primarily reflect a desire for the advancement of God's Kingdom or your own?

3. When you pray, do you focus more on asking for personal needs, or on surrendering to God's plan for your life?