"And he said to them, 'When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.'” —Luke 11:2 ESV
When my children were babies and they would cry for no reason, my husband would pick up their chubby bodies and say, “Let’s go survey the kingdom.” Our particular “kingdom” encompasses a three-bedroom ranch, big backyard, and occasional stray cat. No castle, but I’ve got enough laundry to make a moat, and I do occasionally feel like a maiden locked in the tower.
We can get so focused on the needs of our little kingdoms that we miss the bigger picture. That’s why when Jesus gave His lesson on prayer, He encouraged a dramatic shift of focus.
Go ahead, take the two simple prayer steps Jesus outlined.
Step 1: Acknowledgement of God’s position.
Jesus said, “Father, hallowed be your name.” We don’t throw that word hallowed around a lot, but it simply means “holy, revered, or sacred.” A simple, “God, You are holy” will suffice.
Step 2: Get off the throne.
Jesus encouraged us to seek the priorities of God’s kingdom when we pray. We’ve likely read His words before, but when it comes to praying for the needs of our family, how often do we implement them? It may feel foreign to pray for God’s kingdom needs before your own, but consider it a trade up. Your kingdom ends at the edge of your lot, but God’s kingdom is eternal and endless. Don’t worry, you don’t have to wrap your brain around that fully, but Jesus does teach us to give kingdom priorities top billing when we pray.
Jesus gives us permission to keep our prayers simple. As often as you are able today, pray this simple prayer, “God, You are holy. Let Your kingdom come.”
Action Step: Survey your kingdom.
Take a little walk around your “kingdom.” Thank God for the things He has entrusted to you while asking Him to expand your priorities. It might sound like this: “Thank You, God, for this house. Help me to use it for Your kingdom. Thank You, God, for these children. Help me to teach them about You. Thank You for these groceries. Use them to meet kingdom needs.”
A Mom’s Prayer: God, You are holy. Let Your kingdom come.
