Martin Luther’s explanation of the Third Petition of the Lord’s Prayer in his Small Catechism reads: “The good and gracious will of God is done even without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also. God’s will is done when He breaks and hinders every evil plan and purpose of the devil, the world, and our sinful nature, which do not want us to hallow God’s name or let His kingdom come; and when He strengthens and keeps us firm in His Word and faith until we die. This is His good and gracious will.” Perhaps nowhere in Scripture is God’s will more clearly expressed than in the familiar words of John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him may not perish but have eternal life.”
