Matthew 6: 9 – 10 This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

These are the first few lines of Jesus’ guidelines to his disciples in his response to their request to teach them how to pray. In childhood and for many adults too, the focus of prayer seems to be: “Lord, please do this, please give me, please help me……….” It’s all about us, yet that is completely contrary to the pattern Jesus introduced.

Jesus’ prayer was firstly about his Father. He recognized his Father’s abode or dwelling place – far above the reach and activity of all principalities and powers. He recognized the power of his name – sovereign and supreme and worthy of praise. He recognized his kingdom – everlasting and all-encompassing and which will manifest itself in its totality when God’s will is fully accomplished in the earth as it is already established in heaven.

Jesus knew what part he would play in the establishment of that kingdom when he came to earth. He said: “But I, when I am lifted from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” (John 12:32). He has been lifted up – in the most painful way possible at Calvary. He was buried and then resurrected. He then ascended and sits at the Father’s right hand to intercede for believers. This is the truth of God’s salvation plan and why as believers we each must continue to point men to the crucified Christ. In so doing we play our part in seeing God’s kingdom come on earth, first in our own lives as he transforms us, and in the lives of others as he draws and saves them.