Praying for the Coming of the Kingdom of God
Sitting at the table with me and other men at the church breakfast, an attorney was questioning how he could love his wife better. I asked him what did he ask Father for on her behalf?
“Her health?” he responded tentatively.
“Wrong answer, counselor.”
Crickets.
“Brother, as her husband, you should be looking for ways to establish the kingdom of God in her life.” I then showed him Paul’s prayer for the Colossian church in Colossians 1:9-12
we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. (Colossians 1:9b-12 ESV)
I then suggested that he should pray that:
She would be increasingly “filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him”
She would continue “bearing fruit in every good work.”
She would be “strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy.”
I proposed these because they are some of the character traits detected in one’s life as God’s will is done on earth as in heaven. I later wondered if others would detect these characteristics in me? Our prayers for each other should be focused on God’s will for our lives.
Let’s look at a few prayers to discern what God’s will is for His kingdom citizens.
In John 17, Jesus prays for those whom the Father has given Him. His prayer:
keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. (v 11b)
that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. (v 13b)
Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. (v 17)
that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them. (v 26)
Here Jesus is asking for our protection and unity. He requests that we would experience his joy and a love for one another that reflects the love between Him and the Father. He also asks the Father to sanctify us in the truth. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon defines sanctify here as “to purify by reformation of the soul through knowledge of the truth.” (Strongs G37).
As the early church was established, the Apostles provided other facets of what it looks like to be in the Kingdom of Heaven. The Apostle Paul started his letters to the churches in Ephesus, Philippi, and Colossae with prayers that are similar to each other. The prayer for the Colossian church is what I referenced to the attorney. In his other letters, Paul uses phrases such as:
asking that God “may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you.” (Ephesians 1:17b-18a ESV)
“it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:9-11)
And later in his letters, he adds these instructions for prayer:
So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you … that according to the riches of his glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith — that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:13-19)
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)
Additionally, the Apostles James and John provided these instruction on praying.
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. (James 5:13-14)
If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life. (1 John 5:16a)
If your desire is to see “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”, then these are some specific ways to petition Father to forward His kingdom in your life and in those around you. Unlike a general prayer of blessing, it is much easier to discern when Father answers one of these targeted requests for an individual or group. And in experiencing Him answering a specific request, one’s understanding of the ways of the Father increases as does his confidence that Father is working all things together for our good.
APPLICATION:
Following are several examples of how I have applied this Biblical direction when I pray for another. I have identified the situation before each prayer so that you may focus on the situations that resonate:
TEACHING:
I will ask the Spirit to slice through the fog and provide that “AHA!” understanding. And then to coach them in practicing what they have just learned so that their changing attitudes and actions cause Father to smile more.
Someone, such as inmates, with whom I don’t have prior experience:
I ask the Spirit what He is already doing in them and how I may move His restoration process forward. I ask for wisdom and discernment in responding to their questions.
Someone dealing with paralyzing GUILT and SHAME, such as for an abortion or drug abuse:
I ask the Spirit to manifest His love in a depth they have yet to experience. A depth of love that covers that for which they feel unworthy. I ask that they would comprehend that Jesus’ blood covers even that which seems unforgivable. And for them to accept His forgiveness and embrace the restoration of intimacy with Father.
Someone wrestling with FORGIVING OTHERS:
To fathom a bit more the enormous offense of their own sin against Father. Then to grasp just a bit of how much it has cost Father to forgive them. And thus, to be willing to accept the consequences of the other’s offense against them and choose to forgive.
Someone facing DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES:
I’ll ask the Spirit to use this experience to bring greater insight into how Father works things together (Romans 8:28). I may also ask the Spirit to reveal sinful root motives are perhaps being exposed by this current testing, motives that are hindering being “perfect and complete” (James 1:2-6).
Someone requesting PATIENCE:
Not happening. I chuckle and relate how I learned a long time ago that patience is only learned when things are not going my way. Personally, I’m still working through God’s answer to those early naïve prayers.
Someone being flooded with SEXUAL TEMPTATIONS:
First, to understand that they are not unique in battling sexual temptations (1 Corinthians 10:13). And then to be willing to risk becoming part of a “band of brothers” for this long war of denying the flesh (Galatians 6:1).
Someone who I sense has NOT YET been MADE RIGHT with Father:
I ask Him to pierce their stubborn and hardened hearts, to convict them of their sin before His righteousness and His coming judgement (John 16:8-11).
CALL TO ACTION:
Become better at asking Father for specifics actions in the process of His will being done in our lives as it is in Heaven. Endeavor to have a Biblical basis for your prayer requests for yourself and for others.
