Thy Will Be Done: Embracing God’s Will

What Does Thy Will Be Done Mean?

The phrase “thy will be done” is found in the Lord’s Prayer, which is part of the Bible. The phrase is an expression of submission to God’s will.

In Matthew 6:9 (KJV), we read, “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

The phrase “thy will be done” expresses a recognition that God’s will should be followed and respected. By making this statement, Jesus emphasizes that we should strive to be obedient to God’s will.

The phrase is a reminder that God knows what is best and has wisdom beyond our own. It expresses a willingness to let go of our own desires in order to follow the path that God has laid out for us.

It recognizes that we are not in control of our own destiny, and acknowledges that it is up to God to decide what will happen in our lives. By praying “thy will be done”, we are expressing our trust in God and His plans for us.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

By humbling ourselves before Him and recognizing His will for our lives, we can trust that He is at work to bring about good things in our lives. We may not know exactly what His plan is, but by trusting in Him and seeking to follow His will, we can be assured that He will work all things together for our good.

Who Said Thy Will Be Done?

Jesus said “thy will be done” as part of the Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6:9.

In Matthew 26:39, Jesus prayed along the same lines when he said, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”

Jesus exemplified the attitude of submission to God’s will that we should all strive for. He showed us that it is possible to surrender our desires and follow God’s plan.

Why Is It Important To Embrace God’s Will?

Embracing God’s will is important because it is a sign of trust in His plans for us. It is an acknowledgement that we are not in control of our own lives, but rather that it is up to God to decide what will happen in our lives.

By accepting His will, we can find peace knowing that whatever happens was meant to be according to His divine plan. No matter what challenges or struggles come our way, if we keep faith in Him then everything will work out as He intended it too.

How To Pray For God’s Will To Be Done

Praying for God’s will to be done is an important part of following His path for us.

We can start by asking Him to give us clarity on what His plan is and the strength to surrender our own desires in favor of His. It’s not easy to surrender our desires to God. It requires a great deal of trust and faith. But it’s worth it. When we surrender to God’s will, we are trusting that He knows what is best and that He has something even better planned for us.

We can also pray for courage to accept His will even when it’s not what we want or expect. Praying for God’s will is a way of expressing our submission to Him and trusting that He knows what is best for us.

By praying “thy will be done”, we can rest assured that God will work all things together for our good. Even when it seems like nothing is going the way we planned, He will still be in control and working towards His perfect plan.

As it says in Romans 8:28: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

We can trust that whatever happens is part of His plan for us and it will ultimately bring about what is best.

Wonderful Benefits Of Embracing God’s Will

It is a good and wonderful thing to lay down our will in favor of God’s.

Peace

By trusting in His plans for us, we can find peace in knowing that whatever happens was meant to be according to His divine plan. In Philippians 4:7 it says, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

This means that even when life gets tough, and things don’t go our way, then He will work it all together for our good. There is nothing that can happen outside of God’s plan for us. We can trust that He will always be in control and work towards His perfect plan.

Joy

When we accept God’s will, we can find joy in knowing that He is with us and working good things in our lives. In Romans 15:13 it says, “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”

We may never know why things happen the way they do, but we can trust that He will work all things together for our good and bring us joy along the way.

Hope

When we surrender to God’s will, we can find hope in knowing that He has something even better planned for us than anything we could have imagined. Romans 15:13 says, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

By trusting His plans for us, we can find hope knowing that whatever happens is part of His plan for us and it will ultimately bring about what is best.

Ultimately, accepting God’s will is a sign of trust in His plans for us. It is an acknowledgement that we are not in control of our lives, but rather it is up to Him to decide what will happen in our lives. By embracing God’s will, we can find peace, joy and hope as He works all things together for our good according to His perfect plan.

The Challenges Of Submitting To God’s Will

Submitting to God’s will is not always easy. There are a few challenges we can face:

Fear

We may be afraid of what could happen if we let go and submit to God’s will. We might fear that He won’t provide for our needs or that He doesn’t have our best interests at heart. But these fears can be overcome when we trust in Him and His plan for us.

In Philippians 4:19 it says, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” This is a reminder that no matter what the circumstances, God will always provide for our needs.

Impatience

We can also struggle with impatience when it comes to submitting to God’s will. We want things to happen quickly, or we might become frustrated if things don’t seem to be progressing as planned. We must remember that God works on His own timeline, and we must trust Him even when it seems like nothing is happening.

In Romans 8:25 it says, “But if we hope for what we do not see, then with patience we wait eagerly for it.” Even when we can’t see anything happening, we still must hope in God. His plan for us will be revealed in time.

Bible Verses About “Thy Will Be Done”

We’ve already looked at some verses about embracing God’s will. Here are a few more to encourage you:

  • Psalm 40:8 – “I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart.”
  • Psalm 143:10 – “Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”
  • Romans 12:2 – “And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
  • John 6:38 – “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.”
  • Matthew 6:10 – “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
  • Ephesians 1:11 – “In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.”

Frequently Asked Questions

What is God’s will?

God’s will is His sovereign plan for our lives. It includes both the good things He desires for us and the difficulties we must endure in order to be shaped into better people. God’s will is ultimately for our benefit, even when it doesn’t feel like it in the moment.

What does it mean to submit to God’s will?

Submitting to God’s will means accepting His plans and allowing Him to lead you rather than trying to control your circumstances yourself. This requires a willingness to trust that He knows best, even when we can’t understand why certain things happen or don’t happen.

How do I know if something is part of God’s will?

Sometimes it can be difficult to discern what is part of God’s will and what is not. The best way to know if something is part of God’s will is to seek Him through prayer, scripture, and wise counsel from others. With time, you can gain wisdom and understanding as to what He desires for your life.

Hey, I'm Stephen Altrogge. I'm a dad and published author. I've written for The Gospel Coalition, Desiring God, ERLC, Church Leaders, Crosswalk, and many more outlets. You can follow me on Instagram and Facebook .

5 thoughts on “Thy Will Be Done: Embracing God’s Will”

  1. Thank you for this encouraging post, Brother! I have been struggling for several months to let go of my desires and submit to God’s will. A difficult road because of fears and pride, needed the reminders from here. Was just reading Romans 15 a few minutes ago and meditating on vs.13 which you talked about several times. Glory to God for His good leadership in our lives!! ??

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  2. We all experience some degree of difficulty in accepting and living out God’s will for our lives. We may find ourselves debating why certain events take place or why certain choices are prayed for and not answered. On the other hand, we may find ourselves desperately wishing for something that is outside of God’s will, something that we can only wish for with our hearts and minds, but never fully embrace. Whatever the situation, it is important to remember that God’s will is always best.

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  3. As humans, we often have our own set of plans and goals that we wish to achieve. We spend a considerable amount of time and effort in fulfilling those objectives only to realize that things don’t always go according to our plans. It’s during these times that we might feel lost, confused, and helpless. However, as believers, we need to understand that God’s plans for us are far greater than our own. This is where the importance of embracing God’s will comes in.

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