Several thoughts are swirling through my mind this Monday morning.
Primary is that today is the love my life’s birthday. As you may know, we took a quick trip to Ohio last week as an early birthday present. Jo was able to see both Janna and Braden. Today I’m taking a good part of the day to spend it with her, which will include taking her out to eat to Olive Garden. We have a gift card and seldom eat there, but it is her desire to eat what she shouldn’t on her birthday. 🙂
But this “Shadow” blog is not about my family (although I do brag on them).
Another thought is a book I’m reading in possible prep for a sermon series later this year…possibly this summer. I might preach on the Model Prayer, aka The Lord’s Prayer. It is my belief that the real Lord’s Prayer is in John 17 but that is not a point worth making an issue about. Be that as it may, one of the lines of Jesus’ teaching prayer has been a sticking point for me lately: “Your kingdom come, Your will be done.”
It is easy to allow my desires to become the expected desires of everyone else, including God. It is easy to get attached to “My kingdom come, my will be done.” The earth and all its happenings revolve around me and my desires.
You know what? That is a mighty small orbit! And as time moves on, the orbit closes in on us. I know it is cynical to say this, but everything becomes about us, and even when we pretend to care, our inward motive is “How can this benefit me?”
Something happens within us when we are no longer interested in looking out for #1 (me), but instead truly want to live our life saying, “YOUR kingdom come, YOUR will be done.” When I/you can do that with all sincerity, life transforms. We find that orbit that was tightening, that orbit that was closing in, suddenly expands. We are no longer the focus.
And that’s a good thing.
Question: what was the last time you prayed, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done” and meant it?
Do it. Today.
Lately I’ve been praying a variation of those words a lot–lead us to where you want us and guide us to what you want us to do, Lord. Those prayers help when we are feeling adrift and uncertain.
Tell Jo Happy Birthday from Pennsylvania!
Great minds must think alike Pam! 🙂 I have been on that same track, not so much feeling adrift and uncertain but just wanting to seek God’s leading in my daily walk. And I most certainly will tell her.
I think the key here is… “and meant it”
I know I have prayed “Your kingdom come, Your will be done” many times over, yet somehow, someway, I manage to end up trying to build my own kingdom. One can’t live with a foot in your own kingdom and a foot in God’s. One can’t serve two masters and there can only be one ruler, one King. I have tried to combat this desire for preserving my own Kingdom by intentionally giving more of my time up to things outside of myself.
Been there done that too my friend. It just doesn’t work.
Happy Birthday, Jo!!!
We need to remind ourselves every day that life isn’t about us, it’s about living for God’s glory.
Blessings, Bill!
That we do Martha! And thx. I’ll tell Jo
I did a study of The Lord’s pray from Rick Warren a few years back. Growing up catholic I said the Lord’s Pray at every mass, and after going to confession,(the priest always told you, you had to say so many Hail Mary’s and so many Our Father’s depending on what you confessed to). However, it had came to something I recited and did not let the true meaning of the pray work on my heart. Now, I’m saved, I still say the Lord’s Pray, several times a week in my daily prayers, but now I save it with a conviction of my heart. Wish I could say that my kingdom does not exist anymore, that I never think of my own intentions first, however I am still being transformed. Wish that my own kingdom would go into dark space and not be able to orbit around me at all.
Happy Birthday Jo
I know there are certain traditions that quote the LP through rote memory. I’m glad you got out of that and into life. And like you I wish my little kingdom didn’t exist.