Praying “Thy will be done” is a powerful prayer that submits our will to God’s perfect will. It comes directly from the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:10, where Jesus teaches his disciples to pray “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” This simple petition contains profound meaning for the Christian life.
Acknowledging God’s Sovereignty
First, praying “Thy will be done” is an acknowledgement of God’s sovereignty. As our Creator, God has ultimate authority over all things. His will reigns supreme over every circumstance in our lives. As Psalm 135:6 declares, “Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth.” When we pray “your will be done,” we are humbling submitting ourselves to God’s good plans, trusting that he knows what is best.
This prayer recognizes that God’s will is perfect, holy, and righteous. He desires only what is good for us, even when we can’t comprehend it. As Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us, God’s ways and thoughts are far above our own. Surrendering to his will demonstrates faith that, in all things, he works for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28).
Aligning Our Will with God’s
Secondly, “thy will be done” is a prayer to align our human will with God’s divine will. On our own, we often desire things that go against God’s plans. Our flesh pulls us toward comfort, security, control – dreams that serve ourselves rather than God’s kingdom. As Jesus cautioned in Matthew 26:41, “the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Our human will often conflicts with God’s higher will.
Praying this petition asks the Holy Spirit to strengthen us so that our will matches God’s own. We surrender our earthly ambitions and agendas, asking that he transform our desires to align with his perfect plan. Romans 12:2 tells us, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” As we pray “your will be done,” we ask for grace and wisdom to discern his will in every decision we face.
Trusting His Will in Hardship
Thirdly, “Thy will be done” is a prayer of trust and surrender – especially in times of hardship. When we face pain, opposition, or unanswered prayers, submitting to God’s will requires profound trust in his goodness and faithfulness. Jesus himself prayed these words in Luke 22:42 as he faced the agony of the cross, demonstrating complete reliance on the Father.
In difficult times, we may not understand God’s plan or why he has allowed certain circumstances. But praying “your will be done” shows that we trust his heart and motives, even when we can’t see the bigger picture. We can rest knowing that nothing takes him by surprise and all things work toward his good purposes (Romans 8:28). This prayer abandons our limited view for God’s eternal perspective.
Praying for God’s Kingdom
Finally, “thy will be done” is a prayer for God’s kingdom purposes to advance on earth. In the Lord’s Prayer, it is paired with the petition “your kingdom come” – showing that God’s will being done and his kingdom coming are inseparably linked. Praying for his will means longing for his righteous rule and reign in every sphere of life.
As believers, we are called to be kingdom-builders and ambassadors of Christ. When we pray “your will be done,” we are asking for strength and boldness to carry out our mission of making disciples and spreading the gospel (Matthew 28:19-20). We long to see people surrender their lives to Jesus so that God’s kingdom plan can unfold.
Ultimately, we look forward to the day when God’s will is fulfilled perfectly in eternity. At Christ’s return, every evil will be defeated and creation will operate exactly as he designed it to. Until then, we pray “your will be done” – committing to live for his purposes rather than our own.
Examples in Scripture
The Bible provides powerful examples of biblical figures submitting their will to God’s perfect plan.
- Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-44) – On the night of his betrayal, Jesus prayed earnestly for God’s will, not his own, to be done regarding his coming crucifixion.
- Esther before the King (Esther 4:16) – Esther courageously chose to obey God’s will, risking her life to save her people.
- Nehemiah’s Prayer (Nehemiah 1:5-11) – Nehemiah surrendered his will to God’s, asking boldly for guidance and strength to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls.
- Job after Losing Everything (Job 1:20-22) – Despite horrific tragedy, Job worshipped the Lord and accepted his sovereign will.
How Can We Pray “Thy Will Be Done”?
Praying submissively for God’s will does not come naturally for most believers. Here are some tips for praying “thy will be done” in a biblical way:
- Spend time meditating on Scriptures about God’s sovereignty and goodness, like Psalm 139, Romans 8:28, and Isaiah 55:8-9. Let his Word reorient your perspective to trust his heart and plans.
- When making decisions, earnestly seek God’s will through prayer and wise counsel, asking for wisdom to discern his direction (James 1:5). Be willing to surrender your own desires.
- In prayer, honestly share your will and desires with God. Then pray for his desires to become yours, aligned with his kingdom purposes.
- When facing trials, cling to God’s promises in Romans 8:28 and Jeremiah 29:11. Pray for strength to trust his unseen hand of mercy.
- Choose thankfulness over questioning. God’s will is always motivated by redeeming our pain for greater good (Romans 8:28).
What Does “Thy Will Be Done” Not Mean?
While surrendering our will to God’s is biblical, some misconceptions can lead to unhealthy mindsets.
“Thy will be done” does not mean:
- Passivity – We should not be inactive but earnestly seek God’s will through prayer, wisdom, and study of Scripture.
- Credit for evil – God allows human free will, and people are responsible for evil, not his sovereign will (James 1:13).
- No emotions – Jesus was deeply distressed in Gethsemane. We can bring raw emotions to God while still surrendering.
- No planning – God expects us to make wise plans, while submitted to his leading (Proverbs 16:9).
- Never changing course – As we walk with God, he may guide our steps in new directions we didn’t expect.
Thy Will Be Done in the Lord’s Prayer
In the Lord’s Prayer from Matthew 6:9-13, “thy will be done” is sandwiched between petitions for God’s kingdom to come and for daily provision:
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.
This context gives insight into the meaning of God’s will. His will being “done on earth as it is in heaven” connects closely with his kingdom coming and people receiving spiritual and physical sustenance. As mentioned earlier, God’s will and kingdom work hand-in-hand.
The placement of this phrase also reveals its importance. It is the first actual petition made, the hinge on which all the other requests turn. When God’s will is accomplished in and through us, then we can fully experience forgiveness, deliverance from evil, and provision of “daily bread.”
“Thy Will Be Done” in the Garden of Gethsemane
One of the most poignant biblical examples of surrendering to God’s will is Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane before his crucifixion. On the night he was betrayed, Jesus fervently prayed:
“My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39)
Despite Jesus’ agonizing sorrow to the point of death, he submitted wholly to his Father’s perfect plan. His prayer “not as I will, but as you will” embodied complete trust in God’s goodness and sovereignty. Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins could only be accomplished through God’s will being done on the cross.
The cup did not pass from Christ, but three days later joy came in the morning of his resurrection! This serves as a powerful reminder that when we pray surrendered prayers like “thy will be done,” God ultimately works all things for good (Romans 8:28).
Conditions for Praying “Thy Will Be Done”
Certain heart postures make it easier to sincerely pray for God’s will. According to theologian R.C. Sproul, preconditions for praying “thy will be done” include:
- Trust – Believing God has our best interests in mind.
- Humility – Acknowledging our limited perspective compared to God’s infinite wisdom.
- Patience – God’s timing and ways are often different than ours.
- Obedience – Actively doing God’s known will shows we submit to his unknown will.
- Courage – God’s will sometimes requires perseverance through difficulty.
Developing these heart postures takes time, but enables us to pray sincerely for God’s will rather than just our own. As Sproul notes, “Until we want God’s will more than our own, we will never pray ‘thy will be done’ with an undivided heart.”
Why Pray “Thy Will Be Done”?
If God is sovereign, why should we pray “thy will be done”? Wouldn’t his will be accomplished regardless?
While God’s decrees are unchangeable, prayer is a means by which he ordains carrying out his divine will. When we pray according to God’s will, we become partners with him in seeing his kingdom purposes unfold. He has mysteriously chosen to work through the dependent prayers of his saints.
Jesus himself pleaded earnestly in prayer regarding his crucifixion, yet never doubted God’s sovereign plan. Like Christ, we can bring bold requests while submitting wholly to what the Father knows as best. Faithful prayer aligns our heart with God’s heart, even when we do not understand all his ways.
Praying with Faith Like Jesus
While praying for God’s will can be difficult, we have Jesus’ example of faith to follow. The author of Hebrews describes how Christ was heard by God “because of his reverence” (Hebrews 5:7). Jesus’ earnest prayers aligned with his unwavering trust in God’s purpose and plan.
As believers today, we can pray with expectant faith because we know God the Father heard Christ’s cries. Our prayers are purified and empowered by Christ’s perfect submission. His Spirit living in us enables us to pray without wavering, assured of God’s sovereignty. With childlike dependence, we can boldly petition “thy will be done,” trusting the Father to answer according to his perfect will.
Benefits of Praying “Thy Will Be Done”
While surrendering our will to God’s can be difficult, doing so comes with many blessings and benefits:
- Freedom from anxiety – We can rest knowing God holds the future.
- Protection from harmful choices – His way is always best.
- Purpose and meaning – We were designed to serve his kingdom plans.
- Transformation – Our mindset becomes more aligned with God’s.
- Intimacy with God – Shared desires deepen relationship.
- Faith – As we see him work, even through complex situations, our trust grows.
- Bringing God glory – His power is displayed as his will is accomplished.
While surrendering our will is challenging, choosing to pray “thy will be done” ushers in all the blessings of walking in God’s perfect plan for our lives. We trade the burden of our limited vision for the security of his eternal perspective.
In Conclusion
Praying “thy will be done” places our finite human perspective under the loving rule and reign of an all-wise, sovereign God. As we align our hearts with his Kingdom purposes, we find freedom, security, and meaning. Choosing his will over our own reflects deep trust that, in all circumstances, he works to redeem our pain for good.
Through heartfelt surrender in prayer, we partner with God in seeing his glorious will accomplished on earth. While his plans often look differently than our own, we can confidently release our agendas to the One who ultimately knows what is best. As we yield our hopes and dreams to the Lord, he faithfully directs our steps into the profoundly meaningful life he designed for us.