Every day, millions of people pray the Lord’s Prayer without understanding what it means to pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). 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.” You are abdicating the throne of your life and allowing God to become the very center of who you are.

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. Human needs are not irrelevant in prayer. However, if our perceived needs become the focus of our lives, then 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.

Jesus encouraged His disciples when He said, “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).

You cannot pledge allegiance to two kingdoms. Either you are pursuing the kingdom of the world system or you are pursuing the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ. You cannot serve two masters because you cannot have divided loyalty.

Prayer: Father, help me to be completely loyal to Your Kingdom. Reveal any area of my life where I am not submitting to Your kingship, and help me to put You and Your Kingdom first in my life. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other” (Matthew 6:24).

Check out more from Dr. Michael Youssef, here!

About The Author

Dr. Michael Youssef, Ph.D.

Even before he was born, it is clear that God had a vision for Michael Youssef. His mother was in poor health when she became pregnant with Michael, and because his life was in danger at the time of birth, the doctor recommended terminating the pregnancy. An abortion was scheduled. But God intervened and sent the family pastor to reassure them that God was involved in this pregnancy. He told them not to be afraid and that the child would be "born to serve the Lord." Michael's parents accepted the pastor's message as a message from God and obeyed. His mother gave birth, and lived to see him give his life to the Lord at the age of sixteen.


Believing that God had called him out of Egypt, Michael sought an exit visa in a time in which no university student was allowed to have a passport or leave the country. God intervened again, and miraculously he managed to acquire a visa. He immigrated to Australia, where he studied at Moore Theological College in Sydney, was ordained as a pastor, and met Elizabeth who became his wife.


The Youssefs came to America in 1977, and in 1978 Michael received a master's degree in theology at Fuller Theological Seminary in California. Then he earned a doctorate in social anthropology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Michael served nearly ten years in the Haggai Institute, traveling around the world more than 32 times, teaching courses in evangelism and leadership. He rose to the position of Managing Director at the age of 31 years. The family settled in Atlanta, and in 1984, Michael became a citizen of the United States, making his dream of many years come true.


He founded The Church of The Apostles in 1987 with fewer than 40 adults with the mission of "Equipping the Saints and Searching for the Lost". The church has since grown to be a congregation of over 3,000 people today. This church has driven the international ministry of Leading the Way. While it is heard by millions at home and abroad, behind every message preached through radio waves, is the heart of a pastor, willing to nurture and care for these people. Clearly God has uniquely equipped Dr. Youssef to speak to a global audience. The path he has taken has given him an understanding and firm grasp of the Scriptures that transcend cultures. He preaches, teaches and calls with a sincere, based on the authority of the inerrant, inspired Word of God. With his personal knowledge of the Holy Land, its history and culture, Dr. Michael Youssef transmits life to listeners all over the world.



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