Episode #395 The Kingdom of Me vs. The Kingdom of God – The Lord’s Prayer for Real Life

Hey, friend. Today we're talking with God through the Lord's Prayer, which is something that Jesus gave us as His followers to teach us how we get to approach God.

Verse nine starts us off, "Our Father in heaven, hallowed or holy be your name."

Then verse 10, "Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

When we respond to God in this way, not just with those words, but with that heart posture, with the way we engage with Him in our daily lives, “God, your kingdom come,” this is an invitation to release our smaller agendas and join with whatever God is doing.

We want His Kingdom. We want His will accomplished on Earth as it is in Heaven, which means in me, right? I'm on Earth. In my thoughts, in my actions, in my attitude, in the way that I show up, everywhere I go, I want God's kingdom and His will to be established there. I want what He wants with no delay, just as it is in Heaven, without doubting, without questions. And that doesn't mean we have to fake things if we struggle with what God actually wants to happen, but it's a submission, a yielding of our will to His. Not what I would will, Lord, what you would will.

A kingdom reflects the priorities and the ways of its king, and we get to participate as God's kids, the King's kids, in His Kingdom. As He moves toward love and truth and justice, as He offers grace and mercy and restoration. we come surrendering to Him, not trying to build our own little kingdoms as we sometimes can want to. And much of the stress that we can have in our own lives can come from focusing too much on our little kingdoms. On my reputation, instead of letting God be my defender of my reputation. Of my comfort, of what's in my control, of my productivity, of my image.

There was a time I was invited to speak for an online summit, and I didn't realize how that “yes” to that event was lining up with a calendar for some health issues and treatment I was getting for TMJ. I had ongoing jaw problems, and I didn't realize that the day before this speaking event, I was going to get braces on. Just didn't know the timeline here. And so I get these appliances in my mouth, and I realize the next morning that I still couldn't pronounce my name correctly. My speech was muddled, and so I'm practicing “Jen Weaver. I'm a Christian coach. I'm a ministry coach. I'm a Bible teacher. I serve in the church.” There were all of these sounds that suddenly became more difficult for me.

And the interesting thing about that was I was invited to come and teach on how we are God's image-bearers. And the morning of this event, I was so insecure. I'm practicing saying my name, saying these words, and feeling embarrassed, frankly. And I felt like the Lord brought this gentle conviction to my heart, and He said, "My image in you is not changed by your braces, but your image is.”

And I realized in that moment that I was focusing on insecurities because of my little kingdom, how I wanted to be perceived. I didn't wanna be embarrassed in that way. But the difference in my speech wasn't gonna impede the message getting out, it definitely wasn't impeding who God is or how I am an image-bearer, like you are, of who He is. I was focusing a little bit too much on the wrong image, the wrong kingdom.

So I got to think again and choose differently. And I share that today because we get to live from this greater story of who God is and His Kingdom, and we get to participate in that Kingdom here and now.

God is at work. He is on the move. And so today we're gonna talk with Him about how we can participate in His Kingdom and what He's doing.

And so here's a question I invite you to take to God today:

God, what's one way that you want your Kingdom to be at work in me and in my life today?

And then partner with Him.

His kingdom come, His will be done.

Have a good talk.

And if you've been encouraged by this content, please share it with a friend and help them grow in their conversational relationship with God too!

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