Thy Will Be Done

The will of human beings is constantly unyielding, and they convince us that we are right. This is why we tend to be defensive when someone disagrees with us. And this defensiveness is automatic. It hinders our relationships and makes it difficult for us to listen to another viewpoint and consider whether this opinion has value. For example, the toddler is only 18 months old and believes he knows more than his parents. He does not, but his will is at odds with the will of his parents. Unless parents control that toddler’s will, they will face a monster in that same teenager.

Often, human wills are set against the will of God. James tells us that this conflict is why human wills often conflict with one another. If our wills were in harmony with God’s will, we would be in connection with each other. “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?” (James 4:1-3).

Just as a child defies parental authority, adults want to be free from the moral constraints of God’s authority. No matter how much we chaff at God’s authority—God has given Jesus authority over all. Paul wrote: “He is the head over every power and authority” (Colossians 2:10).

Every human will that is not aligned with Jesus being Lord of all is in conflict with the will of God. Psalm 2 recognizes how foolish this is and asks why they do it. “Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed” (Ps 2:1-2).

As the gospel is proclaimed by the power of God’s Spirit, human wills can be turned to comply with the will of God. The gospel is God’s invitation for us to accept God’s will as our will. This is clearly advised in Psalm 2: “Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth.

Serve the Lord with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling” (Ps 2:10-11).

Jesus taught us in the Lord’s Prayer: “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt 6:10). This prayer will change our lives!