“‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” ~Matthew 6:10
In the very first verse of this prayer, Jesus first gives God the reverence He deserves. Next, Jesus comes into agreement with God concerning the establishment of His heavenly kingdom on the earth. You ever wondered why Jesus would teach us to pray about something we could not access now? We are not waiting to experience the kingdom of heaven when we transition from this life. The kingdom of heaven is here. It is now. In Luke 4:43, Jesus tells us this was His purpose. ”But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” This is indeed Good News. God is waiting on us to partner with Him, with all of our heart, mind, soul and body, so He can manifest His will through us on this earth.
So, how do I know the kingdom of heaven is available to us right now? Well, in Matthew 6:33 Jesus says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Jesus instructs us to seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness and ALL these things would be given to us. Again, why would Jesus instruct us to seek God’s kingdom on earth if we could only access it through death? In Matthew 6:31 Jesus tells us God already knows what we need and He stands ready to provide it, so we need not worry. To illustrate, in Matthew 6:26 -29, Jesus discusses the birds of the air and how God provides for them. He describes the splendor of the flowers made possible by God. What was Jesus’ point? If heaven’s resources are available to birds and flowers, why wouldn’t even greater things be available to us? Even today God is feeding birds and clothing flowers. So, shouldn’t His heavenly resources also be available to us too right now? This is why Jesus tells us not to worry about the things we worry about. God wants to meet our needs and provide for us in ways we cannot begin to imagine, but we must believe it by faith. “But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9).
God desires that we have a fulfilling life right here, right now. He has made it possible for us to access His heavenly kingdom, which grants us power and authority over our circumstances. However, kingdom access and kingdom blessings follow a kingdom mindset, not the world’s mindset. Remember, Jesus tells us to seek God’s kingdom AND His righteousness. These two things go hand in hand. We can’t have one without the other. We can’t have God’s kingdom our way. On our own, we would continue to be consumed with the ways of the world, which does not grant us access. This is one reason Jesus emphasized forgiveness. How can we access heaven’s resources if our heart is poisoned by unforgiveness? The same holds true for jealousy, resentment, pride, anger, etc. We must seek after God’s righteousness, which is God’s character; His way of doing things.
Throughout these 30 days, I’ve emphasized the importance of allowing the Holy Spirit to renew our minds and spiritually transform us to the image of Jesus. This is because Christ had a kingdom mindset. This is why our relationship with the Holy Spirit is so important. He helps us to renew our minds and purifies our hearts so we can understand how God’s kingdom operates on this earth. We gain this understanding through relationship with God, studying His Word, praying and listening to Him as His Holy Spirit whispers wisdom to us. There are no shortcuts. God wants all of us, remember? With the Holy Spirit leading our way, may we all witness the manifestation of the kingdom of heaven in our lives, bringing glory to our loving, magnificent God. This is my hope and my prayer. May it be so.
Prayer: Father, we magnify and lift your name on high. You take care of the birds and the flowers so I know you can take care of me. Help me to remember Jesus came so I might enjoy life on this earth, not endure it. By the power of the Holy Spirit, I will seek both your kingdom and your righteousness to experience heaven on earth. Open the windows of heaven and bless me so I can bless others with the overflow. May my life reveal your awesome glory, causing others to seek you and your kingdom as well. I am so grateful for your Presence in my life. I worship and adore you because of who you are. You are everything to me. I love you. I ask these things in the name of your beloved son, Jesus. Amen.
On Earth As It Is In Heaven - 30-Day Devotional 