Jesus told his followers to pray for God’s kingdom to come and his will to be done “on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). It’s possible that he meant that as a one-day, probably-not-in-your-lifetime prayer, but does that really sound like Jesus? No, even by his own works Jesus demonstrated the coming of the kingdom on earth, in this present age. He called his followers to live, breathe, and express the kingdom now.
So what does it mean to pray for God’s will to be done “on earth as it is in heaven”? It means that whenever you see anything on earth that doesn’t reflect the nature of heaven, it’s fair game for your prayers. It means the authority of Jesus is behind this request. It means you don’t have to conclude this one with, “Lord, if it’s your will.” He said it’s his will, and he invites you to pray it boldly. You may or may not see the answer right away, but your prayer prepares a highway for God in the deserts of this world. And one way or another, he will come in on it.
