Is this just a matter of semantics

[irenemcg]

Do those two phrases "Thy Will be done" and "If it be Thy Will? mean the same thing?

I have heard people say they pray " If it be Thy will?" when they pray for someone to be healed. They equate it with Jesus saying "Thy will be done". What is your opinions here does it mean the same thing?

I will venture my opinion after others have posted.

[Christina M]

"Thy will be done" is a statement of fact. It assumes the will is known.

"If it be they will" is a questionable statement. It implies one does not know the will.


i.e. I read in the Word that God is the great healer. When I pray for healing to manifest I don't add "If it be Thy will", as I already know His will. Instead I say "Thy will be done."

[Jillymac]

I agree with Christina. I used to hear many people say "if it be Your will" when it came to healing, I don't know about you but I see a small element of doubt in that phrase.

If you know that you're praying in line with scripture then I believe it should be "Your will be done".

[irenemcg]

Yep, that was the point I wanted to make that wee word "if" questions the very nature of God and if we come to God in prayer for something such as healing or provision we are questioning the very nature of God.

[Christina M]

wee word


Words are so important!

[pdudgeon]

In Mark 9:22-24 we find the following...

22.the evil spirit often makes him fall into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us. Do something if you can. 23. 'What do you mean, 'if I can', Jesus asked. "anything is possible if a person believes."
24.The father instantly replied. "I do believe, but help me not to doubt!"

so here we have the justification for asking 'if it be thy will" in the person of the father asking Jesus if he can heal his son, seeing as how the disciples could not.

But on the other hand we have Jesus' reply to the father that anything is possible if a person believes.


those who don't either know or don't believe will use the first part of verse 23 to justify their unbelief.

those who know will use Jesus answer that anything is possible.

[BenAdam]

Words are so important!
Words are important, but not as important as the meaning we put behind them. For someone to say either phrase with the same intent is one thing, but to try to communicate an idea words need to be precise.

[razzelflabben]

Small words do often times have huge meanings, Paul in one of his letters says a prisoner of Jesus Christ. Small word big meaning. All that to say that I agree, if does show doubt but I also think that there are times when we don't know what God's will is and must continue to seek Him before we can say "Thy will be done"

In other words, often in prayer, we should, it would seem, start out praying "IF it be thy will" thus acknowledging a searching for God's plan, and after time in prayer, as God reveals Himself to us our prayer changes to "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven" thus indicating not only an understandng of God's will, but also an acceptance of that will.

[GlendaJoanne]

"if" - in my mind - signifies doubt.. and I don't doubt God's Will to heal..

[53Isaiah]

"Thy will be done" is a statement of fact. It assumes the will is known.

"If it be they will" is a questionable statement. It implies one does not know the will.


+1