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The words “Your kingdom come” roll off the tongue so easily – but how often do we stop to think what we are praying for? This post continues a series of poems considering the Lord’s prayer. 

We’re told to pray “your kingdom come”
But do we ever wonder:
What should we want to be done? 
What tasks are we to ponder? 

The question relates to my own role,
As pastor or faithful church member:
Am I willing to look beyond the church walls
And to God’s purposes surrender?

I spoke to a pastor the other day,
Who’s not worried about his own church:
When he thinks of the kingdom, what to pray,
Beyond his own place he will search. 

Do people find faith in the church next door?
Is God’s love being revealed?
Are needs being met, is God lifting the poor?
Are past hurts and pains being healed?

Does the community know God’s love?
Are families more at peace?
Is there a foretaste of heaven above?
From injustice is there release?

Does the gospel go to the nations?
The word of God to the excluded?
Are new peoples enjoying salvation -
So that no-one is precluded?

Are God’s people from different groupings
Finding ways to work together
In partnership, to achieve great things,
Whose fruit will last forever?

And when there’s lack among my flock -
We experience “the day of small things”
Do we give glory to the Rock
To whom every mountain sings?

And when God is working through my church,
Do I praise him the work he has done?
For every good blessing do I search
And give all the glory to him?

And do I know that as death is near
The work will still not be done?
It’s only when Jesus in glory appears
That his kingdom will fully come. 

The scope of this prayer is cosmic in scale -
There is so much that needs to be done.
So all of my days I will never fail
To pray “Father, your kingdom come.”