We often pray the words "Thy Will Be Done" when we recite the Lord's prayer. But what do these words really mean? Jesus must have included them in His teaching to us for a purpose, not to be repeated parrot fashion and then put at the back of our minds.
Let us first look at the big picture, then observing closer still, let us look how these words apply to you and me. On a personal basis.
The big picture is that God is omnipotent, all knowing and all powerful, and the Creator of this world and everything else. Let there be no doubt about it, His will is being done in this respect whether we like it or not. He allows good things to happen and bad things too. It is His will to make things happen and to allow other things to happen, or not. Nothing happens unless He allows it. The devil, with all his evil and malicious ways, cannot do any more than God allows him to do.
That is the big picture. God's will is being done on earth as it is in Heaven.
And now the personal picture, as it applies to you and me on an individual basis ... Victor ... Kevin ... Fiona ... or whatever your name might be.
It is God's wish and will that having been created by Him that we return to Him in Heaven. This is the wish of every loving parent. Everyone of you, would most probably have felt that tugging feeling in your hearts when your children left the parental nest to set up home in a nest of their own, sometimes miles away that you see them no more or not as often. God is a loving parent and it is His wish and will that we return to Him for eternity.
But this is where His will is not as omnipotent as described in the big picture. It could be omnipotent, but it isn't. It is His will that His power is not omnipotent in the personal life of each one of us.
That is because He gave us the will to act for ourselves. He said, "As far as your life is concerned, Victor ... Kevin ... Fiona ... and each one of you, you are free to do as you want. You know I love you, and wish you to come back to Me and share eternity with Me, but I leave that choice to you!"
Just like any loving parent on earth. We do not and should not force our children to stay with us all their lives, but wish that they remain close or in constant contact because we love them.
We have the choice to follow God's will in our personal lives, or not.
This does not mean that certain bad things will not happen in our lives. God sometimes allows bad things to happen to everyone. He does not cause them, but allows them to happen as part of the gift of freedom He gave us. It is man that often, perhaps with some help from the devil, who makes bad things happen.
It is God's will for us to choose our destiny wisely so that we may share Paradise with Him. It should be our will, to freely want, that His will be done on a personal basis on earth, as it is on a global basis in Heaven and everywhere else.
...freedom comes with risks.
ReplyDeleteYes it does, Tom.
DeleteGod bless.
"Thy will be done" -- perhaps (for me) the most difficult 4 words to utter in sincerity. Borrowing from Ms. Joplin, "Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose."
ReplyDeleteMe and Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin - K. Kristofferson
Deletealthough I used to play the Waylon Jennings version more often on the radio. Great guitar and harmonica playing, if you like that sort of thing. Here it is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-V5CQK8ul4I
I hope you like it, Mevely. Brings back memories.
God bless.
A poet friend I follow on Facebook posted this today:
ReplyDelete"The question is not whether God hears or prayers,
but rather,
whether we hear God's prayers for us."
Good point, Kathy. We're too busy talking to listen to God.
DeleteGod bless.
SWEET... how you bring it down to the personal level, where it MUST be. THANKS and thanks for the prayers.... They mean a lot.
ReplyDeleteSherry & jack Thinking of you over there.
Yes, Jack; I believe God to be at the personal level. A one-to-one relationship between us and God. Priests, preachers and pastors help show the way; but at the end it is just us and God. One-to-one. Personal.
DeleteThanx for your prayers. Praying God bless you and your family always.
God's gift to us is free will, to love Him or turn away from that love. I think you know what I choose, Victor.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Amen, Martha.
DeleteGod bless you and yours.
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ReplyDeleteSome people can't handle God's free will, they abuse it instead for themselves.
ReplyDeleteSadly you are right, Bill. People believe they know better.
DeleteGod bless you.
Dearest Victor,
ReplyDeleteFor many, that are roaming freely and far, far away from the 'BASICS', it might be too late for turning back. One never knows when the end is near!
We only can pray for each other and hope for the very best in this short life and in this world full of worldly temptations.
Hugs,
Mariette
Yes, I agree, and join you in prayers for such people.
DeleteGod bless, Mariette.
💞
DeleteWell said.
ReplyDeleteWhether people like it or not God's will, will be done. :)
Amen, Happyone.
DeleteGod bless.
We have to make lots of choices in our lives, but the biggest and the best is choosing Christ Jesus!! Well expressed in this post. Thanks and God bless you, Victor.
ReplyDeleteThank you Nells. I agree with what you say. The wisest choice.
DeleteGod bless.
Choosing wisely is not so easy since we can't see far enough ahead to know what the full outcome is of any choice we make. All we can do is hope we continue in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteWe choose our path by hopefully considering carefully all the alternatives. Having chosen, we review our choice regularly throughout life.
DeleteGod bless, River.
It's our job to follow His will, and my prayer is that i will do so.
ReplyDeleteAmen, Mimi.
DeleteGod bless.