The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

— Romans 14:17

On Mondays I bring lunch for students at the college, and we have discussions about life. I once asked, “If you could change three things in our world, what would they be?” The most common answers went like this: I would change . . . the way money is used and abused . . . the way people treat other people . . . the lack of true religion in our world. In other words, they were hoping for a greater presence of God’s kingdom here on earth.

When Jesus taught his followers to pray, “Your kingdom come” (Matthew 6:10), he was teaching them to ask for the kingdom of God to be present in their lives and in the world around them.

When we pray, “Your kingdom come,” we are asking God to help us submit our lives to him. We are praying that we will faithfully submit our finances and our relationships to him. We are praying that he will help us live in such a way that he is glorified.

This is a prayer that in our personal lives we will be faithful followers of the heavenly King, and that in our life as the church we may together be a visible presence of God’s kingdom in the world. This is also a prayer that the work of the devil and his kingdom of darkness, which seek only to ruin all good things, will be destroyed.

Lord and King, help me to submit every part of my life to you. Help me to live faithfully for you, and may your kingdom of love and grace advance throughout this world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.