Prayer for God’s Will to be done

God’s Will

By: Cindy Schwerdtfeger
Contributing Writer From God’s Plan Guided Steps

Have you ever said a prayer for God’s Will to be done?  If you have recited the Lord’s Prayer, you have said that.  But have you said it in prayer and truly meant what you said?

God’s Will to be done Meaning

What does God’s Will be done mean?  The Greek word for ‘will’ in this verse means choice, desire, or pleasure.  The Greek for ‘be done’ means to become, come into existence, or come to pass. 

Putting that all together – God’s choice or desire to come to pass or to happen. 

When you are saying this, you are then stating that you are asking for God’s desire or choice in whatever you are praying for to be done.

An Example of God’s Will to be done prayer in my life

I have prayed this often in the context of praying for a loved one or friend who is in need.  I was praying for them to get better or their situation to be reversed.  At some point, I switch the prayer to ‘God, let your will be done’ in this person’s life. 

Why did I switch my prayer up?  Could God’s answer to my prayer be no?  It is possible.  It could be not yet.  God wants to give them more time to wrestle with the sin in their lives.  Or they need to make peace with a loved one or a loved one needs to make peace with them.  Whether it is any of these things or not, God could be teaching me in my prayer to leave the decision to Him.

Ultimately, His Will or decision about anything is the best one.  God’s Word tells us that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

What does the Bible say about thy will be done?

This phrase “thy will be done” comes from the Lord’s Prayer. 

“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10 ESV

Jesus was talking about how the hypocrites and the Gentiles prayed.  This prayer is an example of how we should pray.

What is the true meaning of the Lord’s Prayer?

Unfortunately, the devil reigns here on earth now and that is why sin still abounds.  There is so much depravity with murder, racial bias, and looting.  All this and more has been happening for centuries.  As the writer of Ecclesiastes states, “there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecc. 1:9 ESV).

Having God’s kingdom come means that we should pray that God will have dominion or rule as our Messiah. We want God to reign here on this earth as he does in heaven. God wants His desires to be done not our selfish and sinful desires. That is what we should pray for. Ultimately, we want Jesus to return so we have peace on this earth. 

Another Bible verse about God’s Will to be done

Another verse in the Bible about God’s Will to be done in this way is found in Acts.

Paul and some of the disciples arrived in Caesarea and stayed with Philip, the evangelist.  They learned from a prophet, named Agabus, that Paul was going to be bound up when he goes to Jerusalem.  The disciples urged Paul not to go to Jerusalem. Paul told them he was willing to be in prison and even die for Jesus (Acts 21:8-13).  The disciples decided and said this:

And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.” Acts 21:14

After traveling with Paul, they knew that they had to leave the plans that God had for Paul in His hands.  Paul was called to be on mission for God. He had seen Him provide for him faithfully over and over again.  Paul would not be deterred in doing what God’s Will was for his life.  The disciples needed to let God do what was best for Paul and the mission.

What is God’s will for our lives?

God has a sovereign will that He has for everyone.  His will is for everyone to be saved.  He wants all people to come to know Him personally through Jesus Christ.

God doesn’t want anyone to perish but to repent (2 Peter 3:9).  He also “desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:4 ESV

On my site at God’s Plan Guided Steps, you can find the meaning of God’s Will. In addition, to His Sovereign Will for all humanity, God has a Will specific to you. 

In all of this, we have a free will to choose what we will do or not do.  God loves us so much that He sent Jesus to die for our sins (John 3:16).  Yet, He allows us the choice to do His Will.  He gives us “the right to become children of God” (John 1:12 ESV).

Why do we pray for God’s Will in our lives?

We pray because God is the sovereign ruler of the world. He is in control.  He has our best interest at heart. 

God wants us to flee from the evils of this world and pursue godliness, faith, and love (1 Tim 6:11).  We are to keep His commandments without blemish and free from blame or guilt (vs. 14).   Jesus will return soon and he is our only Sovereign ruler, King of kings and Lord of lords (vs. 15).

Jesus told us to “pray then like this” (Mt. 6:9 ESV) at the beginning of the Lord’s Prayer.  We are to keep His commandments and praying for God’s Will to be done until Jesus returns.

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