Leading The Way - Devotional for July 22
July 22, 2026
Thy Will Be Done
By Michael A. Youssef, Ph.D.
Every day, millions of people pray the Lord’s Prayer without understanding what it means to pray, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10, KJV). When you pray this to the Lord, you are saying, “You rule supreme over my life.” As followers of Christ, we are pledging our allegiance to Him by saying, “King Jesus, may Your priorities be my preoccupation.”
You cannot say that you are a member of the Kingdom of God without Jesus being the King of your life—because the King and the Kingdom are inseparable. If you pray for the Kingdom to come and for God’s will to be done, then you are saying, “King Jesus, take over.”
When most people pray, they focus on their plans, needs, and agendas. God cares about our lives and wants us to ask Him for our needs in prayer. However, if our perceived needs become the focus of our lives, they can become our god—and that’s a problem. When our needs become the focus of our lives, it is not long before we cease to pray, “Thy will be done,” and instead begin to pray for our own will to be done.
As we pray for our own will to be done, our focus moves away from loving God and others toward personal fulfillment and pleasure. Soon, our reasoning becomes darkened by our feelings rather than enlightened by God’s Truth, and we are no longer able to perceive the Lord’s will.
True surrender begins when we lay every desire, ambition, and fear at the feet of Christ and trust Him completely. A prayer for God’s will to be done is not a passive resignation but an active declaration of faith in the goodness and sovereignty of God. When we seek first His Kingdom, the Holy Spirit aligns our hearts with His purposes and gives us the wisdom to walk in obedience. Only then can we experience the peace, joy, and spiritual victory that come from living under the lordship of Jesus Christ.
Prayer: Father, forgive me for allowing my needs and wants to become the focus of my life. May Your priorities become my priority. Rule over my life so that I can sincerely pray, “Thy will be done.” I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:31-33).
Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef’s sermon The Prayer That God Answers, Thy Will Be Done: LISTEN NOW
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Listen to Dr. Michael Youssef on today's broadcast of Leading The Way at OnePlace.com.
Watch Dr. Michael Youssef on this week's broadcast of Leading The Way at LightSource.com.
