The Lord's Prayer - On earth as it is in heaven

Intro...

For the last year or two, I've been trying to pattern my morning prayers after the Lord's Prayer.  I find that the structure allows me to be more consistent (if sometimes somewhat repetitive at times) in the discipline of prayer.  I've realized that there's nothing wrong with being consistent and somewhat repetitive.  Jesus related in his parable about the persistent widow who kept asking for the same thing over and over until she got it.  Here's a link to previous posts about this: 

Part 1 - Our Father...  
Part 2 - Your kingdom come, Your will be done... 
Part 3 - On earth as it is in heaven.... is below
Part 4 - Give us this day...
Part 5 - Forgive us our sins...  
Part 6 - Lead us not... But deliver us...

I had been stalled for some time writing this post (like almost a year).  Originally I was going to write a bit about what happened in the books of Job and Daniel.  In the book of Job, we see a discussion in heaven having a pretty significant influence in the life of Job on the earth.  Job is unaware of what happened in heaven to precipitate his situation on earth.  Daniel does a lot of praying throughout the course of the book that bears his name.  He gets insight into why some of his prayers aren't answered immediately, which is eye opening (in a sense, pun not originally intended) as that insight wouldn't 'normally' be seen.

Seeing what isn't seen, hearing what isn't spoken

A couple of questions come to my mind when I think about '...on earth as it is in heaven':

• How do I know what is going on in heaven?  
• Do I need to know what is going on in heaven?

Thinking about all of this (for some time), two verses came to mind:

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.  2 Cor 4:18 (frankly that whole chapter)

As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:9 (and that whole chapter too)

Considering these scriptures, I ask myself how I can be involved in God's kingdom coming and His will being done in this here and now.  It seems to me I need to try and remember to ask God to help me see what isn't seen, and hear was isn't spoken.  To see and hear 'beyond', if that makes sense.

Mary

As I'm writing this today its Dec 26, just after Christmas, so the Christmas story/history is still on my mind.  One person that get's 'passed over' in considering their influence on the whole 'on earth as it is in heaven' equation is Mary, the mother of Jesus.  Without her, Jesus doesn't get born, and God's kingdom doesn't come here on the earth.  There is not a lot said about her in the Bible.  However, her attitude and response to the angel when she's told the news of how she's going to become Jesus' Mom is telling...

Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant, and I am willing to do whatever he wants. May everything you said come true.” And then the angel disappeared.  Luke 1:38

Having a baby without yet being married was going to put her in a very awkward situation - with her family, and with her future husband.  She does not mention any of these concerns to the angel.  As a young female in that culture, she wouldn't have had easy access to scripture or biblical/theological training.  Yet somehow, she managed to cultivate an attitude that God found very favourable.  That attitude of humility, meekness, and submission to God and his plan is clearly evident in her response above.

Image by Catherine Stockinger from Pixabay 
A lamb - meek and humble

Submit Yourselves to God....

This train of thought reminds me of a significant omission I had been making recently in remembering a scripture.  I ask God to help me be conscious of His presence throughout my day, and I had included the verse from James, 'Resist the devil and he will flee.  Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.'  After several months of this, I got a reminder (indirectly from a friend's post on instagram - thanks @paulmoores) that the full verse is 'Submit yourselves to God, resist the devil and he will flee. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.'  James 4:7-8.  The Message put it another way:

So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him make himself scarce. Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time.

Dear God, please help me to humbly make myself available to do Your will.