Prayer Warriors seek first the kingdom of God

“This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
¹⁰ your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  Matthew 6:9-10 NIV

Principle:  Prayer Warriors seek first the kingdom of God.

“But why would you travel all the way to China to adopt a baby?”  My friend heard this question more than once, not just from strangers but even from close family members.  This couple had been praying about adopting a child.  The burden that arose from their prayer time was to adopt a special needs baby, specifically a baby from another country. 

Why is that different?  Because, most handicapped children in some countries are treated very poorly.  There are several reasons for this.  First, the medical costs are prohibitive for the family.  They just do not have the financial resources nor the quality medical care for the children.  Then there is the issue of how to provide the constant care necessary each day.  With both parents needing to work…who will take care of the child every day?  Finally, special needs children are devalued.  If they will not be able to “produce” for the family, then discard the baby and hope for another one.

In God’s kingdom every person has value, every living being is special in God’s eyes.  Choosing someone to be the object of your affection for no other reason than to love them…is bringing God’s kingdom of heaven into our earthly experience.

We have been instructed to pray for God’s kingdom to come.  How does that impact the way in which we pray and ultimately finds expression in the way we live?

First, we need just a comment about the kingdom of God and then we can see how it affects the way in which we pray.  Jesus first preaching words. ¹⁴ After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. ¹⁵ “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”  Mark 1:14-15 NIV.  Since Daniel had prophesied in Babylon, the Jewish people were awaiting the arrival of an everlasting kingdom.  They understood Jesus when he started talking about the entrance of this kingdom.   However, they wrongly thought that it would be an earthly kingdom in which the glory days of King David would be restored.  They wanted the Jewish nation to be on top and cast out the Romans from their land.  Jesus spent the rest of his ministry trying to help people see and understand the dynamics of this kingdom.

When Adam and Eve sinned, they set into motion the principles that dominate this world thinking.  “Think of Myself first!”  “Everyone does what is right in his own eyes.”  “To be the best, you must be on top, the most powerful.”  But Jesus explained that the greatest among us will be a servant of all.  Jesus said that we turn the other cheek when someone strikes us.  The Bible says that we consider others more important than ourselves.  All of the kingdom values turn the world’s values upside down.

So how does this impact your prayer time?

1.     When we see worldly values influencing lives negatively, we pray for discernment for which heavenly value could alter the situation.  For instance, if you see and hear lots of people being worried at work, you pray for an infusion of God’s peace that is evident in the middle of all of the trouble.  Also, if your children are expressing anger and aggressiveness with other children, you would pray for the character of kindness and wisdom and to know how to teach that quality.

2.    Justice is a high value in the kingdom of God.  Throughout the Bible, we are instructed to take note of how the poor and marginalized are being treated.  Anytime, you become aware of injustice, we pray for God’s mercy and grace to bring correction.  This should impact your prayer time for those in prison, those hospitalized, or for those with “special needs”. 

3.    Grace and mercy are the aroma of the kingdom.  When we finally realize that all have sinned before a holy God, we see that all are candidates for His mercy and grace.  We forgive because He forgave us.  We extend mercy, because He extended mercy to us.  We give others grace, because He shows us grace every day.  We pray for God’s mercy and grace to become evident for those we love who are in such need to experience these values of the kingdom.

4.    Jesus said the kingdom of God is within you.  This means that everywhere you travel you are bringing God’s kingdom with you.  So, you would want to pray for yourself to be a great ambassador for Jesus.  People need help seeing the what this kingdom looks and sounds like.  Your daily interaction with them helps them see “Jesus in the flesh”.  Even our imperfection, when we screw up, is an opportunity to display God’s plan for forgiveness.

Just about every arena of your intercessory prayer life should be impacted by inviting God’s rule and reign into that situation.  Praying for the lost, we ask that the kingdom of darkness would give up it’s captives as God’s kingdom of light moves forward.  In praying for healing, we ask God to bring the health of heaven into our broken experience.  In praying for wisdom, we ask God to help us “not lean on our own understanding”, but learn to have faith in God.

Father, we acknowledge that we only understand your kingdom in part.  We ask that you help us see how we can experience your rule and reign in every arena of our lives.  Help us remember that we are not just trying to be good and doing the right things.  There is the power and authority of your kingdom that is available to us.  We have been commissioned by you to re-represent that authority here on earth. “All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me”, Jesus said.  Now he sends us into the world with that kingdom authority.  So we ask you to help us live and pray in agreement with those principles daily.