Pray, then, in this way: Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:9-10

Over the last several months, I can’t count the number of times I have prayed, “Your kingdom come! Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven!” Usually those words come when I’m praying about something that, outside of God, is overwhelming. Global events. National unrest. Situations as complex as knotted skeins of string. (It’s especially hard when even the supposed “good guys” aren’t all that good!) 

Typically when I pray, “Lord, let Your kingdom come, on earth as it is in Heaven” my mind envisions a miraculous change where suddenly God steps in and does something so epic that the whole world sits up and takes notice! I see God dispatching His perfect kingdom into our chaos, big or small.  I picture people realizing that God’s ways are truly best and actually beginning to live according to His ways. God is, after all, the God of the impossible!

The other day I prayed one of those “Your-kingdom-come-Your-will-be-done” prayers. I knew the only way for lasting change to come to our world’s many troubles was if God would bring His kingdom into the chaos. As I prayed, the Lord made me understand that yes, He is the Change-Bringer, but those situations only turn around as He changes one heart at a time. So I began to pray differently, asking God to come and bring His kingdom to heart after heart after heart. As I did, the Lord interrupted my thoughts and said, “Will you let My kingdom come to your own heart first?” I wasn’t expecting that! Truthfully, I’ve long since forgotten what I was even praying about that day, but I’ve been pondering His question ever since. 

Though I’ve asked God to rule and reign in my heart a thousand times,  I’ve never considered inviting His kingdom to come to the inner workings of my life. (Right now I’m sure God’s thinking, “That’s why I brought it up!”😊) Jesus is my Lord, and He’s the benevolent King of a kingdom that can only be accessed by those with child-like hearts.  (Luke 18:17) Paul said that the Kingdom of God is a matter of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Now that I think about it…”Yes Lord! I absolutely want Your kingdom in my own heart!”

For now, it’s a work in progress, but already there have been a few times when I’ve intentionally invited God’s kingdom into my heart. Several days ago I sensed an uneasiness in my spirit, though I had no real reason for it. But as I took it to the Lord, He made me see that the trouble and chaos around me had pried open my heart’s door and snuck inside. Once I realized that, I pictured myself standing in God’s kingdom, surrounded by the peace that fills that atmosphere, and quietly whispered, “Lord, bring Your kingdom to my heart.” His peace came and swept that trouble right back out the door. 

Father, Your word tells me the marvelous truth that I’ve been rescued from the kingdom of darkness and transferred into the Kingdom of Your dear Son! (Colossians 1:13) I’m so grateful for that, Abba! Help me to always discern when something other than Your kingdom is trying to take up space in my heart. Though it sometimes might be from the chaos around me, I know that often my actions, attitudes, or words are evidence that my pride is at odds with Your kingdom. Lord, let me be aware when Your righteousness, peace and joy are not ruling the day in my heart. It’s those times when I especially need to hold my heart’s door open and say “Bring Your kingdom, Jesus!” Thank You Lord! Amen.