Is It Being Done In Our Lives As It Is In Heaven? by “Brother Bill”
Here the Lord’s Prayer:
Matthew 6:9–13 (NKJV)
9 “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.”
Let’s unpack this step-by-step — because “as it is in heaven” is not just poetic – it’s describing a totally different quality of obedience, love, and order than what we see here on earth.
How God’s Will Is Done in HeavenFrom Scripture, heaven operates under some defining realities:
A. Perfect Obedience
• The angels immediately do what God commands — no hesitation, no negotiation.
• Psalm 103:20 (NKJV): “Bless the Lord, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do His word, Heeding the voice of His word.”
B. Joyful Service
• Heaven’s obedience isn’t grudging; it’s glad-hearted.
• Revelation 5:11–12 shows the hosts of heaven worshiping without distraction or complaint.
C. Complete Alignment With God’s Character
• There is no selfish ambition, rivalry, or pride — everything reflects His holiness and love.
• Isaiah 6:3: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!” (said by the seraphim in His presence).
D. Unified Purpose
• Heaven is not divided into factions — all creation there agrees with God’s plan.
How God’s Will Is Done on Earth (Right Now)Sadly, we see stark contrasts:
• Delayed or partial obedience — often “I’ll do it when it’s convenient.”
• Mixed motives — doing good for recognition, profit, or guilt-relief instead of love.
• Distraction and compromise — letting cultural trends override God’s principles.
• Division — the Church often splinters over pride, politics, and preferences.
How We Can Do BetterIf heaven’s model is perfect, joyful, unified obedience, here’s how we bridge the gap:
A. Immediate Obedience
• Train yourself to act on God’s promptings quickly (Luke 11:28 — “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”).
• Start small: if God puts someone on your heart to encourage, do it now, not “later.”
B. Serve With Joy, Not Duty
• Ask God to renew your heart so service is fueled by love (Colossians 3:23 — “Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord…”).
• Replace “I have to” with “I get to” in your daily acts of obedience.
C. Seek Alignment With God’s Heart
• Spend time in Scripture to know His will better (Romans 12:2 — “be transformed by the renewing of your mind”).
• Pray for God to align your desires with His (Psalm 37:4).
D. Foster Unity
• Speak words that heal and reconcile, not divide (Ephesians 4:3 — “endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”).
• Celebrate differences in the Body of Christ as complementary, not competitive.
The Heaven-on-Earth Test
Before acting, ask:
1.Would this be done in heaven? (Is it pure, obedient, joyful?)
2.Would it be done this way in heaven? (Without grudging, hesitation, or self-glory?)
What We Could Do — Living Out This Prayer
Several Christian writers and theologians reflect on how this prayer shapes our lives and actions:
• W. Phillip Keller emphasizes that aligning our human will with God’s—so that doing His will becomes a joy, not a burden—is how “heaven actually… becomes a reality within” us.
• Precept Austin (Octavius Winslow, Spurgeon, and others) highlight that on earth we are called to pursue holiness and voluntary obedience, modeling the angels who serve God perfectly in heaven.
• A Modern Theology article challenges Christians to move beyond passivity—arguing that truly living “as in heaven” means caring for creation, justice, and human dignity now—not just waiting for “someday.”
What We Are Doing — Contemporary Reflections & Publications
Here are a few modern contributions exploring how believers live out this prayer today:
• The High Calling offers sermon notes encouraging us to see God’s kingdom as an “already—but-not-yet” reality—something we participate in daily, stitch by stitch, as we trust and pray for His will to unfold now on earth.
• The Journal Modern Theology (via Gunnar Gjermundsen) critiques Christian neglect of earthly concerns, urging the faithful to embrace God’s will here and now—not just a future, heavenly fulfillment.
Here is a Heaven on Earth map
Heavenly Reality
Earthly Struggle
Daily Earth Habit to Align Scripture Anchor (NKJV)
Immediate obedience — angels act as soon as God speaks (Psalm 103:20)
Delayed obedience is procrastination
“Obey now” drill: act on godly nudges instantly — send the encouragement, forgive quickly, give immediately
Luke 11:28 — “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
Joyful service — heaven serves gladly without resentment (Revelation 5:11–12)
Serving from duty, guilt, or to impress
Before serving, pray: “Lord, I serve You, not men.” Keep a gratitude list while serving
Colossians 3:23 — “Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord…”
Perfect unity — no division in heaven’s purpose (John 17:21)
Division over opinions, pride, politics
Choose one unifying act daily — reconcile with someone, encourage another believer publicly
Ephesians 4:3 — “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”
Pure motives — heaven’s worship has no self-glory (Isaiah 6:3)
Mixed motives: doing good for recognition
Do one anonymous act of kindness daily
Matthew 6:3 — “Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing…”
Worship-centered living — heaven’s focus is God’s presence (Revelation 4:8–11)
Distracted worship; half-hearted prayer
Begin and end your day with 5–10 minutes of pure praise (no requests)
Psalm 100:4 — “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving…”
Complete trust in God’s plan — no fear or doubt (Revelation 21:4)
Anxiety, over-control
Practice “trust handoff”: verbally give one worry to God daily
Philippians 4:6 — “Be anxious for nothing…”
Holy speech — no lies, gossip, or corruption (Revelation 14:5)
Careless words, complaining
Use the “3-Second Filter”: before speaking, ask, “Is it true? Kind? Needed?”
Ephesians 4:29 — “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth…”
So How to Use This Habit Map
1.Pick 1–2 heavenly traits per week to practice until they become natural.
2.Track small wins — don’t focus on perfection, focus on progress.
3.Invite accountability — share your chosen habits with someone who will encourage you.
This day is a gift of Gods go forth and rejoice.
About the Author
Mychal Massie
Mychal S. Massie is an ordained minister who spent 13 years in full-time Christian Ministry. Today he serves as founder and Chairman of the Racial Policy Center (RPC), a think tank he officially founded in September 2015. RPC advocates for a colorblind society. He was founder and president of the non-profit “In His Name Ministries.” He is the former National Chairman of a conservative Capitol Hill think tank; and a former member of the think tank National Center for Public Policy Research. Read entire bio here
