076. Chapter 71: The Third Petition: Thy Will Be Done on Earth as it Is in Heaven

------------ CHAPTER SEVENTY-ONE ------------ The Third Petition: Thy Will Be Done on Earth as it Is in Heaven The eternal and only blessed God, out of sovereign goodness, has created heaven and earth and all their hosts. He preserves them in their essence and motions by His omnipotent, omniscient (as far as each creature is concerned), efficacious, and all-encompassing influence. "Who ... upholding all things by the word of His power" (Hebrews 1:3); "By Him all things consist" (Colossians 1:17). Furthermore, He is also the lawgiver of His rational creatures -- men: "For the Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our lawgiver" (Isaiah 33:22).

Among all creatures upon earth, only man knows God as Creator, preserver, ruler, and lawgiver. When man was still in the state of rectitude, he joyously acknowledged the majesty, supremacy, and other perfections of the Lord. He beheld these perfections by reason of the immediate revelation of God to the soul, as well as by observing the creatures and God‘s operations in them. He was conscious of his dependency upon His Maker, submitted himself to Him as lawgiver, and with a joyful willingness did everything the Lord required from him. He knew of no other will but the Lord‘s will, for His law was imprinted in his nature -- not only as a rule, but it was natural to him, he being a law unto himself.

However, after the fall everything in man has been reversed and corrupted. Even though he may be conscious and knowledgeable of his obligations toward God, he nevertheless separates himself from God, rejects the law of his Lord, lives according to his own rule, allows himself to be guided by his lusts, and declares himself to be his own master. By his very conduct he declares: "Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice ... I know not the Lord" (Exodus 5:2); "Who is Lord over us" (Psalms 12:4). When God converts a person, however, his own will is most burdensome and grievous to himself. He hates it, strives against it, and would extract it by its very root if he were able to. He loves the will of God, and to do this will would be all his desire and delight. Yes, since he loves God, it is his desire that not only he, but that all men would acknowledge, honor, and fear God in His majesty and sovereign rule, and be obedient to Him. Since he knows that both he and all other men are unworthy, impotent, and incapable of this, and that such obedience is a gracious gift of God, he therefore avails himself of prayer and prays in humility, "Thy will be done," doing so in accordance with what the Lord Jesus has prescribed in the third petition. This petition consists of two parts. First, there is the matter requested: "Thy will be done." Secondly, there is the manner in which this will is to be done: "On earth as it is in heaven." The Subject of this Petition: The Revealed Will of God

Relative to the matter requested, there Isaiah 1:1-31) the subject: Thy will; and 2) the activity requested: be done. The address "Our Father,” etc. is applicable to all petitions. The supplicant here maintains his childlike disposition and makes use of a childlike boldness to make his desire known to God as being His Father in Christ, and requesting its fulfillment. He does this, taking the lowest place, in deepest humility, and with the deepest reverence for the eminence and awe-inspiring nature of the divine majesty. While being in such a frame, the supplicant will perceive at once that his request will not attribute anything to the Lord Himself. Rather, he perceives it to be a gracious gift to man that he is permitted to behold and delight in the majesty of his God and His worthiness to be obeyed; that he is privileged to submit to Him and with joyful willingness may do that which is pleasing to Him, thus executing His will and commandments with zeal and steadfastness. He therefore requests this in such a heartfelt manner. In regard to man, his will is a faculty of the soul which enables him to love or to hate, to be either pleased or displeased, to choose or reject -- all this in accordance with the manner in which the intellect views or judges a given matter as being desirable or undesirable. However, this is not true of the will of God. We puny human beings speak of it in human terms and are to understand it in a divine sense. We are acquainted with the matter as such, but for the "how" of this truth we must close our eyes; it is incomprehensible. We know that the will of God is the willing God Himself, and this is therefore not the matter to which our petition relates here. When we speak here of the will of God, we perceive this will as it relates to the creature. As such, it signifies that which pleases God -- God‘s good pleasure: "... according to the good pleasure of His will" (Ephesians 1:5). It can be that God Himself executes this: "But our God is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased" (Psalms 115:3), or that He requires this to be done by man: "... doing the will of God from the heart" (Ephesians 6:6).

God wills the execution of those things which He has purposed in His eternal counsel and which He has not made known to man in advance. This is denominated the will of His decree, or His secret will. We read of this will in the following passages: "My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure" (Isaiah 46:10); "The secret things belong unto the Lord our God" (Deuteronomy 29:29). Even though this is not the actual subject of this petition, man is nevertheless involved with it.

Rather, the actual reference here is to those things which God has revealed to us, and not solely to those matters in which God finds pleasure, such as are recorded in the following passages: "For this is the will of God, even your sanctification" (1 Thessalonians 4:3); "In these things I delight, saith the Lord" (Jeremiah 9:24). It particularly relates to the activity of men, however, which they engage in, due to it being the will of God: "Lo, I come ... to do Thy will" (Hebrews 10:7); "... doing the will of God" (Ephesians 6:6). This will is denominated: the revealed will of God, or the will of His command. "Those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law" (Deuteronomy 29:29). This revealed will pertains to matters which God reveals in advance, but as yet have to come to pass. Such is true of the prophecies and the Revelation of John. Or else it refers to God‘s commands, the moral law, and thus to that which God requires from man. "He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly" (Micah 6:8); "... but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21). So much for the subject of this petition.

It is this will concerning which the supplicant prays that it "be done," that is, that it be performed. Here the supplicant does not primarily and foremost focus upon man and his happiness and felicity in respect to holiness -- as consisting in the harmony of his intellect, will, words, and deeds with the revealed will of God. Rather, the supplicant is moved by the glorification of God in His majesty. This is realized when man submits himself to God, and when he lives according to God‘s will. He is moved to pray for this by his desire that God be acknowledged by men as He is, and as He manifests Himself in the works of nature and grace. For man by nature does not perceive this, does not exalt God above all, nor does he glorify Him; he is furthermore not able to do this. He therefore prays that God would convert men, draw them out of darkness into His marvelous light, and translate them into the kingdom of His Son, so that they will be rendered capable of doing His will and be desirous to do it in very deed.

God creates His secret will, the will of His decree, irresistibly. This is thus not the matter we petition to be done. "For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and His hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back" (Isaiah 14:27). This sovereignty of the Lord the supplicant acknowledges, and he exalts and honors Him as such. Nebuchadnezzar did so: "He doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, What doest Thou" (Daniel 4:35). Even though we are not praying that this will be done, we nevertheless acknowledge this will, acquiesce in it, and fully submit to it, while confessing: "Be it with me according to the Lord‘s good pleasure; let Him do with me as pleases Him; I do not wish the Lord‘s sovereign rule over me to be restricted by whether or not this pleases me. I am but clay, and let Him make, break, or shape me according to His good pleasure. =For He performeth the thing that is appointed for me: ... and what His soul desireth, even that He doeth‘ (Job 23:14;Job 23:13). Let Him do this and let Him be sovereign in doing so!" The revealed will of God -- that is, the will of His command, the manner in which we are to conduct ourselves in all respects and under all circumstances -- is the subject of our prayer. This does not pertain to the will of His command as it relates to God Himself, but as it relates to man. Thus, the petition is that man would do that which God wishes to command, doing so for the very reason that God commands it and is pleased with man for doing so -- for we observe daily that man does not do what God commands. Yes, he prays this due to being acquainted with man‘s wickedness, his own impotence, as well as with the fact that no one will, or is able to, obey God‘s commandment (and thus acknowledge God‘s majesty and rule) except God illuminates the understanding, changes the heart, and causes us to walk according to His institutions and to keep and observe His judgments. The Lord promises to do this in Ezekiel 36:26-27, as well as in Jeremiah 31:33 : "I will put My law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts." Therefore the supplicant prays that God would manifest His omnipotence and goodness by granting the supplicant and others such a heart to know, love, fear, and obey Him in order that man would thereby show that God is the sole Lord, ruler, and lawgiver, who by His very nature obligates all creatures to obedience. David exemplifies this for us when he prays, "Teach me Thy statutes" (Psalms 119:36); "Make me to understand the way of Thy precepts" (Psalms 119:36); "Incline my heart unto Thy testimonies" (Psalms 119:36); "Make me to go in the path of Thy commandments" (Psalms 119:35).

We are to emulate him in this, and thereby demonstrate our desire for the glorification of God‘s Name by the doing of His will, acknowledging our impotence due to the foolishness and wickedness of our heart. Moreover, we must thereby acknowledge that God is good in being willing to give this, has the ability to give it, and is faithful to fulfil His promises to the supplicant. So much for the first portion -- that is, the matter requested. The Manner in Which God‘s Will is to Be Done The second part of the petition relates to the manner in which we are to be willing to do God‘s will: "On earth as it is in heaven." It is neither contrary to the text, nor to the matter itself to acknowledge here a contrast between heaven and earth, or rather, a oneness of heaven and earth. Thus the petition is: "Thy will not only be done in heaven as the angels and the souls of the just made perfect glorify Thee there by doing Thy will, but let also Thy will be done by men upon earth. May Thy Name thus be glorified in heaven as well as upon earth, and upon earth as well as in heaven. The devil and the reprobate upon earth are not deemed worthy by Thee of this, as they neither desire this nor will ever do so. However, Thou hast formed a people for Thyself in order that they would show forth Thy praise. Therefore, let Thy elect do so both in heaven -- which they do and about which Thy children upon earth rejoice -- and upon earth in Thy church, which is so imperfect and in order to do so is in need of a greater measure of grace and of the Spirit. Illuminate and sanctify them more and more in order that they may be equipped to do Thy will, and thus glorify Thy Name and that thus Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." From this perspective all the elect are viewed as one congregation who all join together in glorifying God by doing His good pleasure. Observe the unity of the residents of heaven and the congregation upon earth: "But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant" (Hebrews 12:22-24). They are one people who rejoice in each other‘s activity; that is, in their mutual glorification of God.

However, the comparison between heaven and earth can also be understood as referring to the manner in which the will of God is to be done -- namely, that men upon earth do the will of God as heartily, eagerly, earnestly, joyously, and continually as the angels and the spirits of the just made perfect in heaven. It is not suggested here that it is done as perfectly. A believer indeed strongly desires this, strives for this, and will not rest until his obedience will be perfect. However, he does not desire to limit the Holy One of Israel. It is a gracious gift to be privileged and be able to do the will of God, and one is therefore grateful for the smallest measure of this, even though he longs for more. He does not dare to put restrictions on the measure, however, knowing that God will not make His children perfect here. Rather, it is His will to lead His children to perfection and felicity by faith in the Mediator who is given unto daily justification and sanctification. Therefore, this is not prayed in the absolute sense of the word and with the designation that perfection be attained in the present time. Rather, one joins the citizens of heaven in their endeavor and is desirous to emulate them in their zeal, desire, and love -- praying therefore that he may have both grace and the Spirit to that end.

(1) The residents of heaven do the will of God with an unfathomable willingness. "Bless the Lord, ye His angels, that excel in strength, that do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His word" (Psalms 103:20). This is also the desire of true worshipers, and they endeavor to be thus engaged. "Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power" (Psalms 110:3).

(2) In heaven the most sacred reverence and deepest humility is manifested in the presence of the Lord. The angels cover their faces when they declare the holiness and glory of God (Isaiah 6:2). The twenty-four elders cast their crowns before the throne and fall down before Him who sat upon the throne (Revelation 4:10). Likewise every believer desires to do the will of God in a very meek and humble disposition. God wills that it be so: "What doth the Lord require of thee, but ... to walk humbly with thy God" (Micah 6:8). Such was David‘s practice: "In Thy fear will I worship toward Thy holy temple" (Psalms 5:7).

(3) The residents of heaven do God‘s will diligently and zealously: "Who maketh His angels spirits; His ministers a flaming fire" (Psalms 104:4). The Lord also wills that His children upon earth do His will zealously: "Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord" (Romans 12:11).

(4) In heaven there is nothing but joy. All that they do they do with an inexpressible joy. God wills that also upon earth His children likewise do His will with joy. "Serve the Lord with gladness" (Psalms 100:2). This is also their desire: "It is joy to the just to do judgment" (Proverbs 21:15).

(5) In heaven they never become weary, but they are always and steadfastly doing God‘s will: "Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night" (Revelation 7:15). Likewise, God wills that His people upon earth also be steadfast in the doing of His will. "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58). The petition therefore is that we may do the will of God as willingly, humbly, diligently, zealously, joyously, and steadfastly as the residents of heaven do, even though we shall not attain their perfection until we shall join them in glory. From the nature of this petition, as declared above, everyone will be able to be convinced whether or nor he prays this petition aright. The Vain Recitation of This Petition Many recite this petition daily; however, it is nothing more than a recital and thus not a prayer.

(1) This is true for all who are not acquainted with the Lord‘s majesty and worthiness to be obeyed, whereby all men -- and particularly each of you individually -- are obligated to submit to His will. They neither acknowledge nor love this will with inner approbation. They neither submit themselves to the Lord, offer their services to Him, nor willingly do His will, so that in all this they might glorify His Name, acknowledge Him as the only God, and exalt, magnify, and praise Him. You who are convinced that such is your disposition, what business do you have to pray and to say to God, "Thy will be done"? For you are neither sincere in this, nor desire this, nor are desirous to do so. It is therefore no more than a rattling off of this petition in the presence of the majestic, omniscient, and holy God. How do you dare! Do you not fear to be cast into hell with one blow?

(2) This is true for you who set God aside, let Him be for what He is, remove yourself far from Him, and live according to your own will, "fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind" (Ephesians 2:3); "... that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof" (Romans 6:12); "... serving divers lusts and pleasures" (Titus 3:3). You are a person who allows your own will to be the law and motive for your doings, declaring, "I will do this and I will not do that; period! Who has any say over me, and of whom do I need counsel? To whom do I need to give an account of my doings? It pleases me to conduct myself in this manner." No matter what God commands, you will not do it. If God forbids something, you refuse to desist, for your will must be done. Nevertheless you rattle off before God, "Thy will be done."

(3) Some are not even satisfied with doing their own will. Rather, they insist that all men and beasts -- and if they dared to say it, also God -- would stand ready to do their will. Any person who does not fulfil their wishes and does not behave according to their will, can expect to be penalized by them in as cruel a manner as possible. And if they were capable, they would cause everyone to do their will. They do whatever they are capable of, however, by showing aversion, hatred, wrath, vengefulness, and by verbal abuse and the infliction of injury. Even though they insist that others do their will, they nevertheless say to God, "Thy will be done." Attentively take note of these convicting remarks.

First, you who are such, and in such a frame pray, "Thy will be done" (which however is no prayer), ought indeed to be inwardly convinced that you are mocking with God. How do you dare to rattle something off before the most eminent and awe-inspiring Majesty, saying something to Him which you do not mean and will not do, whereas you intend, and actually do the very opposite! If you dare to proceed with mocking God, you will experience that "God is not mocked" (Galatians 6:7). Surely, God will mock with you when He will cast you away from Himself. "I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh" (Proverbs 1:26); "He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination" (Proverbs 28:9).

Secondly, you nevertheless wish to be known as a Christian and would be offended if people called you a heathen or an atheist -- which those being referred to above truly are. Be assured that you are neither a partaker of Christ, nor of the benefits of the covenant of grace, for "they that are Christ‘s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts" (Galatians 5:24). Those who are Christ‘s have yet remaining lusts which surface daily. However, these lusts are subdued, controlled, and opposed in order that they may be rooted out. Such persons hate their own will and grieve when it manifests itself. On the contrary, it is your pleasure, delight, and your very activity to do your will. You are therefore without Christ, without God, and without hope. Will you then yet proceed in this way with delight?

Thirdly, you who live, as has been said, according to your own will, and then still say, "Thy will be done," are not only mocking with God and are without Christ and without hope, but eternal condemnation hangs above your head; eternal damnation will be your end. Hear what God says concerning you and to you: "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die" (Romans 8:13) -- not only temporal death which all men have in common, but also eternal death, that is, damnation. "Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things" (Php 3:19). And do you ask what eternal damnation is? Consider 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9, where we read, "In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power." The apostle speaks likewise to you: "But unto them that ... do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish" (Romans 2:8-9). Consider also other texts in which eternal damnation is described. Question your own conscience and give heed if it will not cause you to perceive all this in some measure so that you may be alarmed by it. Therefore, do not go on in this way; either desist from praying, or pray this petition reverently in the presence of God, earnestly desiring and humbly requesting the same. The Godly Rebuked and Exhorted The godly do indeed have light, life, and truth within themselves. It is all still so feeble, however, and the residual corruption of nature still has so much strength. They have to strive against the lusts of the flesh which war against the soul. Even though their own will does not have dominion over them, it nevertheless frequently manifests itself, and readily meddles with all things. Frequently they are also not conscious of their own will, do not detect it quickly enough, and do not strive against it sufficiently. Too often they are too irreverent and careless when they pray, "Thy will be done," for the perfect intention to turn from and strive against their own will is not present in an express and lively sense. They must therefore humble themselves about their deficient prayers, seek forgiveness in the blood of Christ, pray for strength to oppose their own will, and henceforth be more earnest in denouncing their own will. With a sincere intent they must strive against their own will and come to God, saying, "Thy will be done."

Therefore renounce your own will; that is, treat it as a stranger whom you do not know. Do not consult it, esteem it as your enemy, hate it, reject it, thrust it away from you, and do not heed it -- however delightful and flattering it may be -- for everything would be defiled if your will would but find residence in your smallest finger. Therefore, renounce your own will.

For, first of all, what are you -- you, who are but a worm and an insignificant, vain, sinful, and hateful monstrosity, that you should have a will which is contrary to the will of God, who is your Lord, lawgiver, and Judge? Who are you that your own will would be to you as a lord, law, and rule -- yes, that you insist upon others also conforming to your will? Something more unbecoming, despicable, and contemptible is not imaginable. Abhor yourself, be ashamed, and hide yourself so that neither God, angels, nor men will see you. Do you dare to maintain your own will in opposition to the holy will of the sovereign God? Shame on you! Hasten to thrust out and mortify your will, for this is not becoming to one who is but an ant and a monstrosity; it is intolerable. I cannot find the words to give expression to the hatefulness and intolerable nature of all this. Hasten to thrust your own will from you as far as possible.

Secondly, what is it that your own will desires? Does it desire something which is beautiful, glorious, honest, and beneficial? No, but it desires that which is impure, the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. It desires to be honored by a worm -- yes, by one who is bound for hell -- and thus you desire to be loved by those who are hateful. Your desires relate to a splendid piece of real estate, that which is vanity, things which perish, things which pollute the soul, and things which at best are of no benefit. They are things which are prohibited by God, and will lead soul and body to hell. Will these things be more glorious and delightful to you than God, His will, and the things in which God delights? Shall your will be in direct opposition to the will of God? If God says, "I hate these things, and you will neither desire, seek, nor focus upon them," will you then say, "I wish to covet, seek, and have them"? Will that which is inferior prevail over that which is superior; that which is defiled over that which is holy; and that which is harmful over that which is beneficial? Therefore, renounce your own will if you wish to pray, "Thy will be done."

Thirdly, believing supplicants, you have certainly not received the spirit of this world, but the Spirit which is from God. Doesn‘t this Spirit compel you to renounce the world and to desire and seek after that which is divine? You are indeed a partaker of the heavenly calling, and by this you have been drawn out of this present evil world. Would you wish to return to it again and reinstate the earthly will which you have renounced as being lord over you? That precious gospel by which you have been called teaches us that we should renounce ungodliness and the lusts of this world. How then, being subject to the light of the gospel, could you follow your own sinful, and worldly will? Since you have been born of God and have been made a partaker of the divine nature, then as a child you love God as your Father and have received an obedient heart to do the will of your Father and to delight in the law of God after the inward man. What business do you therefore have with your own sinful will, which is hostile to the will of God? Cause it therefore to be silent, trample it under foot when it asserts itself, strive against it, do not yield to it in the least, cast it out, and oppose it by praying, "Not my, but Thy will be done."

Fourthly, the doing of your own will engenders nothing but sorrow for you. It wounds, defiles, and deforms the soul; it causes sorrow as well as a loss of freedom and peace. God, who is all your light and desire, hides Himself and lets you mourn alone. While standing from afar, you are vulnerable to drifting away further and further by the smallest breeze of lust. Should you then allow yourself to be a safe harbor for your enemy? No, you must expel him and chase him away as you would a thief and a murderer from your home. On the contrary, the renouncing of your own will shall yield much blessing for you as it will give you free access to the Father through Christ. It will engender much peace, result in great personal freedom, and give you boldness to discharge your duty toward others. You will find yourself to be delivered from desires for earthly things and there is thus nothing to lose nor fear. Yes, the Lord will abundantly requite the loss of honor, love, possessions and pleasure with spiritual blessings and occasionally also with temporal blessings -- be it in abundance or as much as is needful or beneficial for you.

Compliance with God’s Will During Seasons of Affliction When you pray with your heart, "Thy will be done," then you are acknowledging the Lord‘s majesty, claim, and authority over you. Then you will acknowledge with delight and joy that He alone is sovereign and is Lord, and you are thus fully submitting yourself to Him and His will. You thereby request that He deal with you in full accordance with His will and pleasure, thus acquiescing in the fact that you will have nothing to say in the matter. You are thereby leaving everything in His hands, since you know you are neither able nor willing to act contrary to Him, knowing that He will deal with you in a fatherly manner and, being reconciled with Him in Christ, all things will work together for good for you.

If the Lord then afflicts you -- as He will most certainly do with all His children, not one excepted -- you are to reflect upon your petition and thus with all quietness subject yourself to the will (this chastising will) of your Father. This is not to imply that you would not be conscious of your cross, for that would be unnatural and an implicit despising of the God who chastises -- which provokes Him to wrath. "Thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved" (Jeremiah 5:3). It is also not contrary to submission to the will of God if we desire to be delivered from those oppressing or threatening circumstances. You may indeed pray for deliverance and you may indeed use lawful means to be delivered from it. However, all this must be practiced while embracing the will of God, being much more desirous that God‘s will be done toward us than that we be delivered from the cross. Rather, you would be opposing the Lord‘s will if you were fretful. "Neither be weary of his correction" (Proverbs 3:11). Such occurs when you thereby become discouraged, reject your spiritual state, and view all this as proceeding from the avenging justice and wrath of God; when you harbor hard thoughts toward God and entertain doubts about the providence of God: "Thou art become cruel to me: with Thy strong hand Thou opposest Thyself against me" (Job 30:21); "Lest I ... take the name of my God in vain" (Proverbs 30:9); or when you wish for death and, with Judas, entertain thoughts to hang yourself: "So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life" (Job 7:15). It occurs if you become envious of the prosperity of the wicked: "For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning" (Psalms 73:3;Psalms 73:14); and if you begin to doubt as to whether God truly rules all things -- whether this evil proceeds from the Lord, whether He sees those who are destitute, and whether He hears their cry or helps them indeed. To do so is to contend with the Almighty (Job 40:2), and is a hardening of ourselves: "Who hath hardened himself against Him, and hath prospered" (Job 9:4). When such or similar thoughts, dispositions, and inner motions manifest themselves, you oppose the Lord, not being submissive to the will of God. Then you bring a threefold cross upon yourself as well as a chastisement which you will not be able to avoid. You will increasingly be afflicted with grief, and not bearing the cross well will be more grievous than the chastisement itself. The cross will also be made heavier and be of longer duration, for God will prevail: "That Thou mightest be justified in Thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged" (Romans 3:4). You would cause the Lord to withdraw Himself from you: "Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest My soul depart from thee" (Jeremiah 6:8). Have you then gained the upper hand? Therefore, in all quietness submit yourself to the chastising hand of the Lord, and say, "I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against Him" (Micah 7:9). Learn from a king to bring your soul into submission unto the Lord. He said in Psalms 39:9, "I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because Thou didst it." And should it not behoove you to conduct yourself likewise? First, is not the Lord the sovereign God? May not He do with His own as pleases Him? Do you have a right to demand from Him why His dealings are thus? Would you indeed desire that the Lord be obligated to you and be required to do your will? Certainly not; you rejoice that He is God, is sovereign, and is exalted above all. Why then, as you acknowledge His majesty, would you not willingly submit yourself to Him -- even if it were with tears in your eyes due to the grief you must endure?

Secondly, believers, is not He your reconciled Father in Christ? Does not He act in love -- even if it is due to paternal displeasure with your deeds? "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten" (Revelation 3:19). Should you then render opposition to love and be fretful over the manifestation of love? This is where the problem lies. You think: "If only I knew that God loves me, I would quietly and willingly endure the affliction." It is that which begets your fretfulness. Overcome this and humbly submit yourself to the chastising hand of the Lord and you will better perceive the grace which the Lord has bestowed in you. During temptation you are not able to ascertain your spiritual state by way of the marks of grace. Rather, you must deem this to be a fact, and exercise faith instead. This will bring you closer to God and cause you to look unto Jesus; all that leads to the Lord Jesus, and through Him to God, cannot be counterfeit. Therefore, consider that the cross is a consequence of God‘s displeasure over your sinful behavior, but you must at the same time esteem it as proceeding from a paternal heart in order to thereby sanctify you and draw you away from sin. With this in mind, submit yourself unto the Lord. "Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits" (Hebrews 12:9).

Thirdly, the chastisement, when you bear it well and embrace the will of God in it, will be greatly beneficial to you. This is God‘s very objective: "He (chastises) for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby" (Hebrews 12:10-11).

Even if you do not perceive the beneficial nature of the chastisement, then do not be surprised by this, for the fruit will come afterwards. Therefore, "Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass" (Psalms 37:5), and you will experience what David experienced and say, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn Thy statutes. I know, O Lord, that Thy judgments are right, and that Thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me. Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept Thy word" (Psalms 119:71;Psalms 119:75;Psalms 119:67). The Holy Obligation to Do God’s Will

Believing supplicants, it does not suffice to renounce your own will and to be submissive to the Lord‘s will in affliction. Rather, you who pray, "Thy will be done," must know that it is also your duty to do the will of God by living according to His precepts; for whatever a believer prays, he is also willing to do. Therefore, acknowledge the obligation which is upon you with your whole heart -- not only due to being God‘s creature, but also in view of His relationship to you as being your Father in Christ. Submit yourself as such to the Lord and say, "I am Thy servant -- yes, I am Thy servant." Offer yourself to the Lord by reason of that relationship and say, "Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth." Neither do anything carelessly, nor because it seems good to you, but ask the Lord for counsel: "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" Do not ask this with the desire that the Lord would answer you according to your wishes, but as with a sense of holy indifference that it be as it pleases the Lord, seeking for His will in your every deed. God has revealed His will in His Word and we therefore are neither in need of nor should expect, desire, or request immediate revelations each time. Rather, we must come to the Lord by way of His Word which is a lamp for our feet and a light upon our path. Then shall we not be ashamed when we have respect unto all the Lord‘s commandments. Do not only pray, but listen with readiness and desire for an answer. Be ready to hear what the Lord will speak to you, desiring that He would not only direct you by His Word as to what His will toward you is, but also that He would enliven your soul and kindle it with love toward His will, and cause you to subscribe to His will with willing obedience and maintain such a disposition in you. Therefore, let compliance with God’s revealed will be your only duty, and say with David, "I have chosen the way of truth: Thy judgments have I laid before me. Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart. I have inclined mine heart to perform Thy statutes alway, even unto the end" (Psalms 119:30;Psalms 119:111-112). Do not only resolve to do so with resolute determination, but carry it out and engage yourself with delight. Reverently seek to be pleasing to the Lord in all your deeds. Do not hesitate and neither consult your own will nor consider your own interests, but subscribe to the doing of God‘s will with a ready mind. Hasten and do not delay to observe the Lord‘s commandment. Whatever you do in the Lord‘s service, do it with a zealous spirit and with fervent earnestness, such being your pleasure and delight. God is not pleased when we perceive our service to Him as troublesome and burdensome. Therefore, greatly delight yourself in the Lord‘s commandments, and let it be a joy to you if you may do something which will be pleasing to the Lord. Conquer all external and internal hindrances and opposition. Persevere courageously in all circumstances and be as the horse of the Lord‘s majesty in battle, while being "stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Final Exhortation

Therefore, children of God, since you pray, "Thy will be done," and are desirous to do the Lord‘s will in the place assigned to you, stir up your soul to that end so that you may execute it in a lively manner. For no matter where you turn, you are surrounded by those who cry out to you, "Oh, do the Lord‘s will."

First, when you focus upon God, you will perceive that He is worthy of this for He is the majestic and exalted One. He is your Maker, and you exist by His powerful influences. If He were to withdraw this but for a moment, you would no longer exist. Apart from His infusion of power you would not be able to see, hear, or move. He who is in such a position and is so dependent upon the exalted, glorious, holy, and omnipotent God -- would such a person not be engaged with his entire soul and all its faculties to do His will? Children of God, the Lord loves you. Motivated by love He has given you His Son to be a Surety and Savior. He has redeemed you, granted you spiritual life, adopted you to be His children, and ordained you for eternal glory. When considering that, should you then not receive wings to embrace, love, and do the will of God with a burning heart, solely because He is the Lord and your Father? The church of old boasted in this: "For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king" (Isaiah 33:22).

Secondly, when you focus upon the will of God, you will perceive it to be delightful; all that He requires from us is delightful. "And ... that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:2). All that God commands is pure and holy. "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes" (Psalms 19:7-8). How can someone who knows the Lord refrain from embracing the will of his Lord and from observing His commandments with joy? "It is joy to the just to do judgment" (Proverbs 21:15).

Thirdly, to do the will of God is to glorify God. It is the delight, pleasure, and joy of a child of God that God be known, feared, and glorified, and that none but He be Lord, the Most High, the Holy One, and the lawgiver. This we do by ourselves and with others when we do His will. "Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit" (John 15:8).

Fourthly, our Lord is so good that He will reciprocate to the doer of His will all that he does in His service out of love, with filial fear, and willingly. If we do the Lord‘s pleasure -- oh wonder -- then He will in turn do our pleasure. "He will fulfil the desire of them that fear Him" (Psalms 145:19). He will reward them richly: "In keeping of them there is great reward" (Psalms 19:11). All restlessness of the soul is the consequence of doing our own will; but in the doing of God‘s will there is nothing but peace: "Great peace have they which love Thy law: and nothing shall offend them" (Psalms 119:165). Spiritual life is but feeble in believers and it grieves them that they do not make more progress. Therefore, begin to do the Lord‘s will sincerely, according to your feeble strength -- as a child -- and the Lord will give you increase. "Every branch in Me that beareth ... fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit" (John 15:2). The hiding of God‘s countenance is most bitter for a child of God; however, His revelation of Himself to him constitutes all his joy. The Lord grants this privilege to all that do His will: "Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember Thee in Thy ways" (Isaiah 64:5). Therefore, enter upon this way which leads to salvation. "Blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God" (Psalms 84:5;Psalms 84:7).