"THY WILL BE DONE."

Many religious people have a blasphemer’s notion about prayer. They suppose that we are to command God's action. We are told never to pray, "Thy will be done," because this shows a lack of faith. Nonsense! Our Lord lacked no faith, yet he prayed these very words (Mt. 26:42). And he taught us to use these words in prayer (Mt. 6:10). A believer seeks to know the will of God in all things, so that he may confidently ask for it. But he recognizes his weakness and his ignorance in this matter. (We do not ever become infallible judges of what God's will is. Those who think otherwise are proud, self-willed, and ignorant.) Therefore, the believer rightly prays, "Thy will be done." This expresses the submission of our wills to God's will. This is an acknowledgment of God's infinite wisdom. He knows what is best. And it shows confidence in God's goodness. We are confident that our God will only do that which is right and best for the good of his people and for the glory of Christ. Therefore, when we pray, we say with our Master, "Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." This is the prayer of faith. It is seeking the will of God, submitting to the will of God, and resting in the will of God.