Jesus' disciples asked Him to show them how to pray. In response, Jesus prayed what many now refer to as the "Lord's Prayer." Near the beginning of that prayer, Jesus says, "Thy kingdom come" (Matthew 6:10). Including this in a prayer expresses believers' desire for God's kingdom, suggesting a submission of their will to His. The Bible teaches that believers already live in God's spiritual kingdom on Earth (Colossians 1:13). But the fullness of God's kingdom has not yet been realized. For instance, Jesus spoke of His followers not being part of the world (John 17:14). Paul described believers as having citizenship in heaven (Ephesians 2:19;
Philippians 3:20). That mindset of living in the world but not being of it is expressed in the prayer for God's kingdom to come. Those words convey that our life and hope is in Christ's coming kingdom.
“Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:21). The apostle John’s words are familiar not only because they close a book that points to Christ’s final victory, but because they echo a deep longing in the hearts of believers who see the brokenness of the world and ache for it to be made right. That same longing is reflected in Jesus’ instruction to pray, “Your kingdom come” (Matthew 6:10)—a prayer for God’s rule to break into every part of life here and now, not just in the future. When the weight of sin, injustice, and suffering becomes overwhelming, we begin to understand why John pleaded for Christ to come and why Jesus taught us to desire God’s kingdom above our own.
But praying for God’s kingdom is never passive—it shapes how we live today. It means we forgive when the world seeks revenge, we serve when the world seeks status, and we pursue righteousness when compromise is easier. It looks like choosing honesty in a culture of shortcuts, showing compassion to the overlooked, and prioritizing God’s Word over the noise of the world. It also means sharing the gospel boldly, knowing that every life transformed by Christ is a glimpse of His kingdom breaking in. As we pray “Your kingdom come,” we are also committing ourselves to live as its representatives—bringing light into darkness until the day He returns and makes all things new.
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