Q. 62. What do we pray for in the third petition of the Lord’s Prayer, “your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”?

• WSC 103
• Heidelberg Catechism 124

By his grace … able and willing. Even our desire to do what is right, and the strength to carry it out, comes from God. “It is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).

Obey. It is as if we pray, “Help us and all people to reject our own wills and to obey your will without any back talk. Your will alone is good. Help us one and all to carry out the work we are called to, as willingly and faithfully as the angels in heaven” (Heidelberg Catechism 124).

Submit. In prayer, we seek to conform our wills to the will of God, who always knows best, rather than bend God’s will to do our bidding. When Jesus faced the cross, he submitted his human will to the divine will: “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42). “What does God wish other than that we should walk according to his teaching? We pray, therefore, that he may provide us with the means and opportunity of doing his will, such that we may be saved both in heaven and on the earth. For the whole point of his will is the salvation of those whom he has adopted” (Tertullian, On Prayer).

Angels. While Christ is the supreme example of submission to God’s will, angels are likewise “mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word,” and “ministers, who do his will” (Psalm 103:20–21). It is as if we pray, “May all the inhabitants of the earth do your will as willingly as the holy angels: may these do it continually even as they, without any interruption of their willing service; yes, and perfectly as they: may you, O Spirit of grace, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make them perfect in every good work to do your will, and work in them all that is well pleasing in your sight” (Notes, Matthew 6:10).