For Thine Is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory Forever

As a child, when we recited the Lord’s Prayer, we always finished with the phrase:

“For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.”

Even now, this final phrase brings me profound comfort. Throughout the Lord’s Prayer, we embark on a spiritual journey—gaining a glimpse of God seated on His throne, experiencing the daily struggles of life, wrestling with forgiveness, grappling with temptation, and yearning to live in the light of God’s kingdom on earth. It is a prayer filled with movement: from heaven, to earth, to the inner battle of the heart.

By the time I reach this final declaration, it feels as though everything comes full circle. We begin with “Our Father who is in heaven,” and now we end with a triumphant reminder: God reigns. The kingdom is His. The power is His. The glory is His, forever. In a world where so much feels uncertain, this truth anchors my soul.

Fighting the Good Fight, One Day at a Time

As Jesus taught us to pray, He focused our hearts not on securing the future but on trusting God one day at a time. “Give us this day our daily bread.” Not tomorrow’s bread. Not next week’s storehouse. Just today’s portion.

Living this way requires faith. It’s not natural to our modern mindset, which values stockpiles, retirement accounts, and five-year plans. But in this prayer, Jesus invites us to return to a simpler trust: to know that our Father is faithful and that today’s needs will be met by His hand.

And amid this daily walk, we are called to forgive others as God forgives us. We must resist temptation, turn away from evil, and, if need be, grovel through the mud of sin—always reaching up for the hand of the Savior who lifts us out again.

The Final Declaration: A Return to the Throne Room

After navigating these daily battles and heart struggles, the final words lift our eyes once more:

“For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever.”

It’s as if we are transported back to the courts of heaven, where everything is in order. God’s rule is absolute; His power is unassailable, and His glory is everlasting.

When I read the visions of heaven in the book of Revelation—where multitudes gather around the throne, praising God in thunderous worship—I hear echoes of this final line: the elders cast their crowns before Him. The living creatures cry out, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” (Revelation 4:8)

There, the struggle is over. There, everything is as it should be. And that same God reigns even now, even while we walk through the brokenness of this present world.

A Small Historical Note

Interestingly, the phrase “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever” is not included in the earliest manuscripts of Matthew’s Gospel. Many scholars believe it was a later addition, drawn from the early church’s liturgical practice. In Jewish tradition, prayers often ended with a doxology—a final word of praise. It would have been natural for early Christians, many of whom were Jewish believers, to close the Lord’s Prayer with this doxology, affirming God’s greatness.

Far from diminishing its meaning, this context enriches it. The early church understood that living out the Lord’s Prayer involved not only petitions and confessions but also declarations of God’s supremacy and glory. We need that reminder—both in our prayers and in our lives.

Our Big, Strong, Loving God

When I pray this final phrase, it reminds me that God is not small, weak, or distant. He is a great God—strong and loving. He reigns with kindness, wisdom, and an unshakeable strength.

We could not ask for more. And so we pray, with deep trust and hope: