CONSIDER IT
Sometimes it seems as if our tears, mourning, and pain will never end. We feel hopeless because we see no light at the end of the tunnel. But God promises that those painful things are not forever. We earnestly desire and pray they will not overwhelm us in this life, but even if things are painful now, we can be confident of a day when all tears will be wiped from our eyes. This promise, along with God's promise to be present with us now and to give us foretastes of that future, will strengthen us with hope and joy.
Name three things about your current life that you are grateful for.
EXPERIENCE IT
"Be still in the Light of My Presence, while I communicate Love to you. There is no force in the universe as powerful as My Love. You are constantly aware of limitations: your own and others'. But there is no limit to My Love; it fills all of space, time and eternity. Now you see through a glass, darkly, but someday you will see Me face to Face. Then you will be able to experience fully how wide and long and high and deep is My Love for you. If you were to experience that now, you would be overwhelmed to the point of feeling crushed. But you have an eternity ahead of you, absolutely guaranteed, during which you can enjoy My Presence in unrestricted ecstasy. For now, the knowledge of My loving Presence is sufficient to carry you through each day"
To what extent does the present experience give you hope? What can God's people be sure of about the eternity that lies ahead? How does knowing that affect you? Or does it?
"Heaven is both present and future. As you walk along your life path holding My hand, you are already in touch with the essence of heaven: nearness to Me. You can also find many hints of heaven along your pathway, because the earth is radiantly alive with My Presence. Shimmering sunshine awakens your heart, gently reminding you of My brilliant Light. Birds and flowers, trees and skies evoke praises to My holy Name. Keep your eyes and ears fully open as you journey with Me. At the end of your life path is an entrance to heaven. Only I know when you will reach that destination, but I am preparing you for it each step of the way. The absolute certainty of your heavenly home gives you Peace and Joy, to help you along your journey. You know that you will reach your home in My perfect timing: not one moment too soon or too late. Let the hope of heaven encourage you, as you walk along the path of Life with Me"
What hints of heaven have you seen in the past few days?
(Consider It ... Experience It / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Ephesians 1:15-18 and Hebrews 10:22-25
"For this reason, ever since I (Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus) heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength" (Ephesians 1:15-18 / New International Version)
ReplyDelete"...let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. and let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching"
(Hebrews 10:22-25 / New International Version)