What do we pray for in the third petition of the Lord's Prayer?
In the third petition, which is, "You will be done on earth as it is in heaven," (Matt. 6:10) we pray that God, by his grace, would make us able and willing to know, obey, and submit to his will in all things, as the angels do in heaven. Again the Psalms have much to teach us. Psalm 25:4-5 states, "Make me know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long." Psalm 119:26 states, "When I told you of my ways, you answered me; teach me your statutes!" Finally, Psalm 103:20-21 states, "Bless the LORD, O you his angels, you might ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word! Bless the LORD, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will!"
Summary
The third petition merely elaborates on the second petition. Ultimately, we are asking God to make us sensitive to and capable of keeping his will. The desire of our hearts should be that our obedience is as prompt and complete as the angels in heaven. Next week, we answer, "What do we pray for in the fourth petition of the Lord's Prayer?"
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