Your Will – Does It Matter?

Your Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10b

In his book, “Praying like Monks, Living Like Fools,” Tyler Stanton calls praying for God’s to do on earth what He has ordained in heaven is intercessory prayer. “We are to intercede, come between two parties, to mediate reconciliation. Interceding is simply praying for others. The motive behind all true intercessory prayer is love for the other person.” When we intercede:

1. We are asking God to intervene in their lives where love is lacking.
2. We are praying for them to experience the mercy of God demonstrated in full justification and the acquittal of sin through the shed blood of the crucified and resurrected Christ.
3. We are asking for healing for body, mind and spirit.
4. We’re asking for wisdom and understanding of the promises and commands of God.
5. We are asking God to meet them where they are and take them where he wants them to be.
6. We are asking that they become a part of God’s family and learn to know him as sovereign and loving Father.
7. We are praying for their expressed immediate needs to be met.

Our attitude in interceding is important. Do we intercede believing we are participants in seeing God’s will done on earth in others’ lives and situations and our world. Do we pray with open hearts accepting God’s will to be done in God’s way. Do we pray in faith believing God is answering even when we don’t see it. Or… do we pray with a fatalistic mindset that says God’s going to do what God’s going to do regardless of what I pray. But, because He said to do it, I will do it.

 Check your attitude when you pray this prayer for yourself or others. Be sure you are praying for God’s will as it is stated in God’s word. Be careful not to interject your will into your prayer but to leave the “where”, “when,” and “how” in the Hands of our Father who knows best. 

Father, help us as we intercede for those we love and need Your help this day. May we intercede when we don’t see You working, and when the enemy says it’s hopeless. Give us eyes to see beyond what’s in front of our faces, to see Your heart and desire for Your kingdom to come in every situation.