Let the Lord's Will Be Done

In Sunday’s study we looked at Jesus' direction for us going into prayer. In Matthew 6:9–10, especially verse 10, He directs us to pray for the Lord’s kingdom and will to be done. This clear direction also helps us to see that His will and not ours is the key focus not only of prayer but of the entirety of a believer’s life. This is so helpful and really aids me in my prayer and also my whole outlook of life. It helps me remember that He is God and I am not. His will is not only perfect but it is for my best, as He is a good, good Father (Matthew 7:7–11).

An interesting narrative is in Acts 21, when Paul was heading to Jerusalem but stopped to meet with believers in Caesarea. A prophet named Agabus took Paul’s belt and bound himself with it, saying that was what awaited the owner of the belt in Jerusalem, as the Jews would bind him and turn him over to the Gentiles. The believers obviously didn’t want Paul harmed and pleaded with him not to go, but Paul was determined. So they ceased to try to persuade him and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done” (21:14). This would seem like a fatalistic throwing up of the hands as Paul wouldn’t listen to them.

Most of us have been there. Something or someone dear to us seems headed in a wrong direction; all of our wisdom tells us it is bad, but we’ve done all we can, so we may throw our hands up and say that.

However, I would say that it is much more of a declaration of faith in our Lord and our good Father. They have tried to follow the Lord and yet it is to no avail. So, instead of a fatalistic giving up, it is declaring what we actually know—that God’s Will will be done. And we know that it will be the best. He is God and we are not. Our intentions might be good, but our human wisdom is limited, so we place our trust on Him who knows best.

God would guide and lead Paul all the way, eventually to his martyrdom, when the Lord received Him into His presence in heaven. It was after testifying to Christ both in Jerusalem and also Rome.

Our circumstances may not be our plan, but His plan is always best, and He accomplishes things we never even thought about. So let us often declare, “Let the Lord’s will be done!” Do it with confidence as we can fully trust Him. He is present and He is working!