How to Change Your World with a Prayer God is EAGER to Answer (Chapter 6)
How to Pray So That You KNOW You'll Get Your Answer, Chapter 6
Hello friends! I hope you’ve been enjoying this series on how to pray. If so, I have great news: The pre-order for How to Pray So That You KNOW You’ll Get An Answer is now live! You can pre-order the ebook today, and the paperback on Friday.
The book will be released in all formats on April 2, 2025!
Click here to pre-order:
https://kdp.amazon.com/amazon-dp-action/us/dualbookshelf.marketplacelink/B0DZ32ZLVV
If you want to preview the book before ordering, don’t worry — we’ll keep marching through the book in this blog, because we want everyone to grow in their prayer lives.
Let’s get into it:
And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come.” (Luke 11:2 ESV)
All of our kingdoms fall apart.
Every great kingdom humanity has built has crumbled to ruins, shaken to dust by wars, catastrophes, division, famine, and greed. The kingdoms of the past have fallen, and the kingdoms of the present aren’t far behind.
If we hope in a kingdom of this world, even its best, we know one thing for sure: that kingdom will eventually fall.
Jesus teaches His disciples to lift their eyes higher. Instead of hoping in a better human kingdom, pray: “God, we need Your Kingdom, not ours.”
This is a prayer: “Father, let Your Kingdom reign right here, right now.”
It’s also a declaration: “Father, I’m using my authority as a child of God and citizen of this world to decree that Your Kingdom is here, right now. In my life, in my home, in my sphere of influence, Your Kingdom reigns! I obey You as my King, so that wherever I go, Your Kingdom comes with me.”
This is a simple prayer.
But it changes everything.
God’s Kingdom does not run by the rules of humanity. His Kingdom is not bound by human borders. It doesn’t bend to our policies or preferences. His Kingdom follows higher priorities. God’s Kingdom is the will of God made manifest, the character of God lived out, the heart of God poured out.
And it doesn’t happen without you.
That might sound backwards. God is God, right? He can do anything! Why does He need me for His Kingdom to come?
Because God has given you dominion over this world.
In Genesis 1, when God creates humanity, He declares our purpose:
And God said, "Let us make humankind in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the flying creatures of the sky, and over the tame animals, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creature that crawls on the earth." And it was so. (Genesis 1:26 NHEB).
God created us to rule.
To be clear, God still has all power. No one threatens his reign. God still retains all authority and dominion over the entire created order.
But God used His dominion to delegate the rulership of the Earth to humanity.
Imagine a family home in which the teenager has his own room. His parents still own the house. They retain all authority and power over the entire house.
But they have delegated the authority of the teenager’s room to the teenager.
If they respect the authority they’ve delegated, the parents will knock and receive permission before they enter. They won’t make changes to the room without the teenager’s permission and approval. If the teen doesn’t want them to come in, they’ll stay out. It’s up to the teenager to invite them in.
In the same way, it’s up to us to invite God in.
When we pray “Your Kingdom come!” we’re saying, “Dad, please come into my room. I need some help.”
We wield the delegated authority to rule this world. We can tell God to come fill this earth with His presence, or tell Him to stay out. We can tell Him whether we want His will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven, or whether we want our wills to be done.
If we want God’s Kingdom to come, it enters through our hearts. His Kingdom comes in our lives as we bow the knee to the King and begin obeying His orders. As we do, all the areas of life we can touch experience more and more of God’s Kingdom entering our world.
When we pray for God’s Kingdom to come, we are dedicating our lives to serve Him, not ourselves. When we pray for His Kingdom to come, we’re asking God to help us live as citizens of His Kingdom, carrying out His laws and decrees. When we pray for God’s Kingdom to come, we’re declaring that God’s way of life is best — that the best thing for all the world would be for everyone to bring obeying the commands of the true King:
Love the Lord your God with all you are. He already loves you with such passionate commitment that He took on flesh to die in your place to save you. Let His love fill your heart, and give Him your love in return. Let unconditional love be the dominant emotion of your life.
Love your neighbor as yourself. Don’t ignore your own needs, but don’t ignore theirs, either. Meet their needs as eagerly as you meet your own. A world where everyone cares for each other with such zeal — can you imagine what it would be like?
Imagine a world where everyone loves God and feels satisfied in His love — truly, completely satisfied. Imagine a world where, if you have a need, those around you are eager to meet it. Imagine a world where you get to return the favor, meeting the needs of those around you, and feel continual fulfillment in doing so. Imagine a world where you don’t feel a need to hide from people, because you’re all seeking each other’s good. Imagine a world where you don’t have to wonder if people are for you or against you, because you’re all serving the same loving Father.
Is that a better world than you live in right now?
If so, join with every Christian who prays, “Father, Your Kingdom come!”
And as you pray, begin to live this Kingdom out. Follow the commands of the King who reigns on high, to make your slice of earth feel more like Heaven.
When you pray “Your Kingdom come!” you’re saying, “Father, make my life look like Your Kingdom. Take my area of authority and rule it as part of Your Kingdom. Everything I control or influence, I will use for You.”
Do you believe God will answer this prayer?
My friend, God is waiting with eager expectation for you to pray, dancing at the thrill of getting to answer!
Very inspiring. Thank you.
I just read a Rick Warren article and these sentences caused me to pause: "Many people try to recover from their problems on their own-without turning to God in prayer. This never works because there is no lasting recovery without prayer."