From Our Father to Amen: The Prayer That Shapes UsSample

As it is in heaven

Doing God’s Will Like Heaven Does

When we pray, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10 NKJV), we’re asking for God’s perfect plan to be carried out in our lives just as it is in heaven. But what does that really mean?

In heaven, God’s will is done perfectly, joyfully, and immediately. Angels, who are God’s messengers, don’t question His commands—they obey fully, gladly, and without hesitation. Take the angel Gabriel, for example. When God sent him to deliver messages to Mary (Luke 1:26) and Daniel (Daniel 9:21-23), Gabriel didn’t argue, delay, or hesitate. He simply obeyed. That’s the kind of response we should have when it comes to God’s will in our own lives.

But here on earth, things are different. People often resist God’s will, putting their own desires first or hesitating out of fear, doubt, or selfishness. However, if we truly desire for God’s will to be done “as it is in heaven,” we must learn to recognize His will and respond to it immediately and joyfully.

So how do we know God’s will? The good news is that it’s not some deep mystery or hidden secret—it’s right in front of us in His Word! Colossians 3:12-15 gives a powerful glimpse of what God desires from us. He calls us to be compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, patient, forgiving, and, above all, loving. When we live out these qualities, we’re actively doing God’s will.

Praying “as it is in heaven” also means submitting ourselves fully to God, trusting that His ways are better than our own. It’s not just about asking for His will to be done in the world but also in our own hearts. Philippians 2:5 says we should have the same mindset as Christ, who lived in perfect obedience to the Father.

Ultimately, praying this part of the Lord’s Prayer is an act of surrender. It means choosing to obey God’s Word without question, just like the angels do. It means seeing His will as a privilege, not a burden, and recognizing that He has a purpose for each of us.

So, let’s put on our “spiritual tennis shoes” and get in step with Him—living each day with the same readiness and joy that is found in heaven!