Thy Kingdom Come
When I Am Tempted to be Discouraged
It is obvious that the secular world chooses to place dispiriting news on the front page of the paper, I expect that. Sadly however, even Christian organizations that I admire, pray for, and support, also disseminate discouraging news. It seems their objective is to show how bad things are, so I will send them more money.
The net result is that I am either tempted to be depressed or hardened to the needs of the world. I want to believe that Jesus is King. I desire to affirm that God’s “kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and [His] dominion endures throughout all generations.” (Psalm 145:13) One of the strategies God has given me is to pray the Lord’s Prayer.
Signing the Lord’s Prayer
I am committed to learning sign language. I have been taking classes for many years, but my powers of retention seem to be diminishing. Nevertheless I keep at it so I can communicate with our son John. During a recent class we began learning the Lord’s Prayer. I love seeing this inspired prayer in 3-D. Hearing the words are powerful, but now with the added visual representation, I experience the prayer more deeply.
The phrase, “Thy Kingdom come” continues to reverberate in my heart, since we began learning it a few weeks ago. There are four signs involved in this short phrase. First we sign “Thy” by looking up and acknowledging God. Then we make the sign for “King,” the symbol for “K” across the chest. The third sign is for “dom” or “domain” which is the left hand making a fist which represents the earth, then the flat right hand moves in a circular motion over the earth. Finally we look up and lift both hands then follow through by pointing down at the earth. Thy-King-Dom-Come. Watch me sign it here)
Every time I pray this prayer, I am asking, and believing for, God’s Kingdom to come to earth exactly as it is in heaven now. I love this inspired image.
Proclaiming the Truth
Another plan of action that has proven effective and faith-strengthening is to proclaim the truth through song. Singing hymns helps me affirm the truth. Discouragement flees before inspired worship. There are two hymns that have come to my mind often lately, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus and This is my Father’s World. In the first hymn I am encouraged to lift up my eyes and fix my eyes on Jesus. In the second song, I can declare that my God is my father and He is King forever.
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus (the first verse)
O soul, are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior, and life more abundant and free.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.
This is My Father’s World (the third verse)
This is my Father’s world. O let me ne’er forget that though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet. This is my Father’s world: why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King; let the heavens ring! God reigns; let the earth be glad!
The Truth
“Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all.” (1 Chronicles 29:11) Amen and amen.
Happily Looking Up and Serving Under the Domain of King Jesus,
Steve
Special Guests on Upcoming Podcasts
#190 Bob Farewell: Farewell to Normal, a true story of following your dream
#191 Bob Farewell: How to Land your Dream Job
#192 and 193: Steve Saint: Steve is the son of Nate Saint who flew the five missionaries into Ecuador in 1956
#194 Jaime Saint, the son of Steve Saint and president of ITEC, a unique model for fulfilling the Great Commission
#195 Peter Greer: President of Hope International, on Christian Microfinance
Speaking Schedule for March
I will be at the following events in March. I hope to see some of you in person. If you can’t come, could you tuck in a prayer for God to bless these events? Thank you!
Great Homeschool Conventions in Fort Worth, Texas, March 7-9
Great Homeschool Conventions in Greenville, SC, March 21-23
Great Homeschool Conventions in St. Charles, MO, March 28-30
Free Sign Language Videos
If you are interested in learning beginning sign language, watch these short videos on this YouTube channel.
More videos are being added regularly.