Before my Kingdom, Yours

Scripture
Luke 11:2

“Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.”

Devotional
Pay attention to where Jesus begins.
Not with bread.
Not with problems.
Not with health.
Not with schedules.
Not even with forgiveness.
He begins with God.

“Hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.”

Our natural prayers often begin with our kingdom:
“Lord, fix this.”
“Lord, make this easier.”
“Lord, help my plans work.”
“Lord, change this person.”

There is nothing wrong with bringing those concerns before God. Jesus will teach us to pray for daily bread in the very next verse.

But He first reorders our priorities.

Before my comfort, God's glory.

Before my plans, God's kingdom.

Before asking God to change my circumstances, Christian prayer learns to say:
“Father, glorify Yourself in my circumstances.”

“Hallowed be your name” means that we desire God's holiness to be recognized and His name honored—in our lives, homes, church, community, and world.

“Your kingdom come” means that we desire Christ's saving rule to advance. We want unbelievers converted. We want churches faithful. We want sin defeated. We want Christ to rule increasingly over our own hearts. And ultimately, we long for Jesus to return.

That makes prayer both mission and submission.

We pray for God to accomplish His purposes in the world, and we submit ourselves to those purposes.

Prayer is not primarily an attempt to convince God to become involved in our agenda.
Prayer slowly brings our hearts into submission to His agenda.

That can be difficult.

Sometimes God's kingdom purposes disrupt our plans.

Sometimes His glory is displayed through circumstances we would never have chosen.
Faith nevertheless says:
“Father, before my kingdom—Yours.”

Reflection
Is there an area of your life where you are asking God to accomplish your will but have struggled to say, “Your kingdom come”?

Prayer
Father, hallowed be Your name. Make Your name great in my life today. Let my words, decisions, relationships, and circumstances bring honor to You. Your kingdom come. Advance the gospel, strengthen Your church, save the lost, and rule more fully in me. Teach me to desire Your glory more than my comfort and Your purposes more than my plans. Amen.