By Keiko Chibana Shinn | Rediscovering Prayer
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
– Matt. 6:33
Seeking the kingdom of God is an everyday thing. One might say, “What is the Kingdom of God?” How does one truly define it? To be honest I don’t think there are words that can measure up to the wonder and awe of the fullness and depth of the Father’s Kingdom. But thankfully, I return to the Word of God and I’m reminded that the Kingdom, in its simplest form, is our healing.
When we pray: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done…” We are literally asking for God’s full intervention and authority to reign upon the human condition. We are also asking that the very nature and character of God be discovered in our daily interactions with the world around us that we would not move on our own accord, but rather allow our Father to show us a better way.
“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit…” Ro. 14:17
Jesus is the righter of all wrongs. It’s in His nature to emit what righteousness looks like by the fruit of His character that produces justice, peace, and, joy for today and for all eternity. He came to seek and to save the marginalized, the ill, the rejected, the down and outer, the hopeless, and the broken hearted from every nation, tribe, and tongue. Jesus came to humble the proud, to weaken the oppressors, to challenge the wisdom of the wise, and to destroy once and for all the father of lies.
“Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations…” Rev. 22:1-2
For all who have received Christ are to carry the kingdom of God in their hearts. Jesus is the Gate, the River, and the Tree of Life. Whoever comes into contact with the source of life itself is called back daily to receive from Him love, power, and grace to walk in the light. We are to take our rightful place in His kingdom that we may be the visible hands and feet of God’s kingdom. May we seek our Father’s kingdom above everything else that peace, joy and, justice wrapped in divine mercy would come alive in our daily living. Expand your hearts that the kingdom of God would come to bind up the broken hearted, release those held bound to deception, and proclaim that the love of Christ runs deeper that fear. Embrace the healing that empowers, discover His Kingdom purposes.
Prayer: Father, may Your Kingdom come in my heart. Have Your way Lord as I surrender to your Lordship. Be my king and my healer. Give me ears to hear and eyes to see what matters most to You. Let your righteousness, joy, and peace take over. Give me fresh hunger to pursue Your character and Your kingdom that I may walk empowered by love that sets us free.
Additional verses: Matt. 6:9-10; Is. 61:1-2; Rev. 7:9; Mk. 2:17; Jn. 8:44; Jn. 10:9; 1Jn. 4:18