"Few phrases are more confusing to the Christian than 'the will of God.' The confusion is partly owing to the variety of uses in the Bible. On the one hand, God works all things according to the counsel of His will (Eph. 1:11). God's will, in this sense, cannot be overturned, negated, or thwarted. What God wills will come to pass. But on the other hand, we must pray for God's will to be done. The fact that we must pray for His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven implies that the will of God, in this sense, can be disobeyed and ignored."

"We can think of these two sides of God's will as His will of decree and His will of desire. In the mytery of divine sovereignty and human responsibility, God superintends His creation down to the fine details of hairs and sparrows, and yet His commands can be diregarded by His rebellious creatures." Kevin DeYoung. The Good News We Almost Forgot. 227.

Question 124: What does the third request mean?

Answer: "Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" means, help us and all people to reject our own wills and to obey Your will without any complaining. Your will alone is good. Help us one and all to carry out the work we are called to, as willingly and faithfully as the angels in heaven.