The Lord's Prayer (2 of 6)

Pray then like this:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

Matthew 6:9-13

Your kingdom come

John tells us that "the kingdom of heaven is near". Jesus tells us this as well, but He also tells us that we won't know when. Jesus tells us it will come like a thief in the night.

Throughout the Bible we have several instances of people praying for something that eventually came to pass. Sometimes we pray for things, and they come to pass as well. Then there are times we feel the prayers aren't answered.

Jesus wasn't asking for God to send His kingdom. He already knew that would take place. Jesus was praying that God follow through on the promise of the kingdom. Jesus was claiming God's promise.

There's a difference here. God fulfills HIS promises, as He promises. God may not always answer OUR prayers the way WE want them answered. If we pray for the delivery of His promises, and not our wants, we might find that our prayers get answered sooner.