Love really wants God’s kingdom to come (love prays pt 6)

Thy kingdom come…

Here’s the part of the pattern of the Lord’s prayer that I struggled with for a long time.

Two big problems.

First, my question, “Why does the God of all things need me to pray for this?”

The problem was one word, “need”.

God is the one person who “needs” nothing outside of himself to live. If God has needs, there exists the possibility that his needs might not be met – and if his needs aren’t met – then what happens to God? And if stuff happens to God – what happens to us?

Nope – don’t like that one bit.

But the thing is, Our Lord doesn’t need us to pray in order for his kingdom to come. He’s partnering with us.

It would be like Ann Voskamp emailing me and saying, “Craig, will you co-author my next book with me?”

First, I totally would.
Second, she certainly doesn’t need my help in any way.
Third – boy that would be an awfully nice offer. No?

So, I’m thinking it’s a really nice thing of Our Lord to do – to include us in the plan like this. It still baffles me a little – but I get it better.

Second problem: I knew it was the correct thing to say – “I want God’s kingdom to come”. But I kinda didn’t.

I imagine if I could see with better eyes, there wouldn’t be a turning of a shadow of doubt. But I think I’d still like my heart to be beating five minutes from now.

Know what I mean?

So in order to really pray this with any “umph”, I had to get myself to a place where the coming of the Kingdom was a good thing.

After years of half hearted praying for the kingdom I figured it out. Whatever the Kingdom is – it’s where everything bad is gone, and everything good is better, and love rules all the time.

No tears.

That was the base, now to make this personal.

I think of something in my life I really don’t like. Then I chat with him about how in his kingdom it will be gone – or better. Then I think about something in my life that’s good. I talk with him about how nice a better “good” will be.

And I thank him for both.

It’s magical.

It goes something like this:

I just never seem to get this.
It’s your Kingdom, and it will come,
but you want me to be involved somehow,
and to pray for it.
So I am.
Lord, I pray for the day when all the bad is gone
and all the good gets better.
I think of my life. You know how much I really hate _____.
I want that gone.
And in your kingdom it will be. (discuss, discuss, discuss)
And Lord, you know how much I heart ______.
I get more of that. That’s a good thing! (discuss, discuss, discuss)

Thank you.

Father, I pray for your kingdom to come.

Give this one try and I think you’ll be hooked.

Tomorrow it’s about His will being done – just like it is in heaven.

I always liked the way that rhymed, “thy kingdom come, they will be done”.

Have I told you guys recently that I really heart writing for you?

Well I do.

In God’s Love