In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches us to pray to our Heavenly Father, asking that His will be done on Earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). This petition is central to our faith, yet many of us struggle to understand it. In a society that often prioritizes personal desires and ambitions over everything else, discerning God’s Will can seem difficult. Yet, we are called to align our lives with God’s will.

How do we do this? How do we align our lives with God’s Will?  As Christians, we do this by following the example of God’s Son who declared: “My food is to do the will of Him who sent me, and to accomplish His work” (John 4:34 ). Before leaving this earth, Jesus offered a new commandment whereby we can know we are doing God’s Will: “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34).

God’s will is not confined to a few isolated scripture verses, of which there are many. It encompasses all of scripture which Jesus came to fulfill. The life of Jesus Christ is the perfect earthly model for fulfilling God’s will. By meditating on the scriptures and reflecting on the life of Christ, we gain a clear understanding of God’s will for our lives.

Discerning God’s Will is not a one-time event, however. It is an ongoing process. It requires prayer, reflection, action, and attentiveness to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Everyone faces life-changing choices in life, such as where to live, what career or vocation to pursue, what school to attend, who to marry. But the greatest decision you will ever make is to do God’s Will in your life.

Knowing God’s Will carries no value if you do not do it. This was the case of those whom Jesus criticized for giving lip service while not practicing what they preach (Matt 7:26 ).  The evidence of doing God’s Will can be seen by your fruits, your deeds, says the Lord (Matthew 7:20). May your deeds and and the way you do them be your expression of God’s Will. An encouraging word, a helping hand, welcoming the stranger, providing solace to the sick and afflicted are effective ways of doing God’s Will.

Doing God’s Will is not always easy. Jesus’ agony in the Garden of Gethsemane reveals the immense difficulty of setting aside our own desires and submitting to the Father’s Will. We are called to follow Christ’s example, trusting that God’s Will is ultimately for our good and the good of everyone. 

In a world marked by division, conflict, and self-interest, doing God’s will is the surest path to unity and peace. When we focus on pursuing our own desires at the expense of others, we contribute to the brokenness and distrust that plague our society. But when we unite in doing God’s will, not our own, we discover a common purpose that transcends our differences, bringing us together in love and service to build a more just, compassionate, and harmonious world.

As we navigate the complexities and challenges of life, let us remember that our highest calling is to embrace God’s will, looking to the example of Christ who perfectly fulfilled the Father’s Will. Let us pray:

Heavenly Father 
Save us from the temptation to view prayer
as a means to bend Your will to our own.
Teach us, instead, to pray with humility and trust:
“Thy will be done.”
May we seek Your guidance in all things and
Have the courage to follow the example of your Son.
We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.

—Fr. Hugh Duffy, Ph.D.