What does it mean to pray “Thy Kingdom Come” in the Lord’s Prayer? Thomas Watson’s sermon on this verse provides some clear and powerful ways to pray according to this prayer. The sermon has been adapted into a prayer for mission. Quotations are from Watson adapted from statements to prayer.
Father, your heart is that sinners become sons through the work of Jesus.
Lord of heaven, you rule and reign over all things, and can do all things.
“Nothing stirs in the world but you Lord have a hand in it;
you set every wheel at work;
you humble the proud, and
you raise the poor out of the dust to set them among princes.”
So Heavenly Father we pray:
Let your Kingdom come.
May your kingdom of grace come in the hearts and minds of your people.
May your kingdom of glory come fully across the earth in every sense.
“The kingdom of grace is nothing but the beginning of the kingdom of your glory.
The kingdom of grace is glory in the seed, and the kingdom of glory is grace in the flower.
The kingdom of grace is glory in the daybreak, and the kingdom of glory is grace in the full meridian.
The kingdom of grace is glory militant, and the kingdom of glory is grace triumphant.”
We pray that the kingdom of grace may be set up first, in our hearts.
For “when grace comes, there is a kingly government set up in the soul. Grace rules the will and affections, and brings the whole man in subjection to Christ”
May this be the kingdom we seek in all things.
“While others aspire after earthly kingdoms, may we labour to have the kingdom of God within us.”
Let your kingdom come.
Lord, we pray this because the kingdom of darkness is all around us and
we are burdened for those who do not yet know Christ:
- There is the darkness of ignorance (Eph 4:18)
- There is the darkness of sin’s pollution (Rom 13:12)
- There is the darkness of misery (Jude 6)
Our great enemy the devil rules in this darkness – chaining humanity by sin and slavery.
“Let us pray that God will bring us out of this kingdom of darkness.
God’s kingdom of grace cannot come into our hearts till we are brought out of the kingdom of darkness.”
May we see the great need of those around us.
May we see them as they truly are.
And may it cause us to long and labor for their freedom.
“O Lord, we pray that God would break the sceptre of the devil’s kingdom;
that…the hellish kingdom of the prince of darkness may be beaten down!
Satan’s kingdom must be thrown down before Christ’s kingdom can flourish in its power and majesty.”
In light of this, O Lord, we pray for your kingdom to come.
May we set our eyes on that shining kingdom we invite others into:
- A kingdom free from our labours and hurts
- A kingdom free from corruption and decay
- A kingdom free from all sorrows and cares
- A kingdom free from all evil
May we invite others to God “the inexhaustible sea of all happiness.”
May we hold out to those around us the offer of this kingdom of rest, of purity, of light, and life.
Lord, let your kingdom come.
May we be faithful to invite others to this kingdom:
- May we invite those in our family who do not know you into this kingdom
- May we invite those in our places of work who do not know you into this kingdom
- May we invite those in our neighborhoods and cities into this kingdom
May you give us favor, boldness, and courage to us as we hold out the hope of Christ.
May you empowers our local church and its members that we might be an outpost of your kingdom, raising high the banner of Christ, and warmly welcoming others.
And last, Lord, may we urgently pursue your mission while we are still on earth.
“The great errand for which you sent us into the world is to prepare for this heavenly kingdom.”
May use the time you’ve given us well.
“If time be so short, why do we waste it about things of less moment, and neglect the ‘one thing needful,’ which is the kingdom of heaven?”
Oh Lord, let us see our day today rightly.
Here “we are in a valley of tears. Here we are combating with Satan. Should we not desire to be called out of the bloody field, where the bullets of temptation fly so fast, that we may receive a victorious crown?
O my soul, breathe after the heavenly kingdom.”
Amen, Lord, let your kingdom come.
May it come in my heart.
May it come in my church.
May it come in my neighborhood and to the nations.
Amen.