Prayer Dart Board

Week 43

How can we be sure that the prayers we offer to God are acceptable to his ears? Is there some way that we can know for sure what to pray for or how to pray? When I pray, I want my prayers to be heard, I want God to answer them, but I want them to be prayers directed by the Holy Spirit and not myself. How can we be assured of this?

I invite God’s Holy Spirit into my time of prayer and ask him to first reveal any sin in my life that I need to repent of. We can’t come to the God of the universe if we have unconfessed sin in our lives. If the Holy Spirit reveals something to you, confess it and ask forgiveness right away. Do whatever you need to do to rectify a situation with someone you may have hurt. The main thing is to get into a right standing with God  before you pray.

I also ask him to speak through me if there is anyone who has needs. Many times he will reveal someone who has a need and I can ask him to meet their needs whatever they are. It may be that I know what the need is, healing, guidance on a decision, direction for their life - but God may have to do a work in them before these prayers can be answered.

Many times we are up against situations in our lives or while praying for others and we are unsure what to pray for. It is those times that the spirit will intercede. Romans 8:26 reads, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” 

I remember a time in my marriage when it looked as though it were over. I can distinctly remember sitting on my bed and crying out to God. I had no words and such a heaviness in my spirit that I could do nothing but moan and sob. I truly believe that the Holy Spirit within me was speaking to God at that very moment and he heard the cry of my heart. My marriage was not healed instantaneously, but over the course of time we worked things out and today we are truly happy together. 

We never know how things work in the spirit realm. Instead of speaking words over your situation, maybe you just need to cry out to God.

Sometimes we ask for things that God may want to give us, but the time just isn’t right for us to have them. We may want a spouse, a different job, new friends or an answer to a decision we have to make. These answers may be small or huge, but when we ask God to provide for our needs, we expect an answer right away. 

His time is not our time, he may know a better way to answer your prayer. I believe that we often expect God to answer us in one way, but he has a more perfect way. 

I am reminded of a previous job. I was not actively seeking a job, but I was feeling discontent in the part-time job I had and knew that financially I should be working full-time. I had asked God to help me find a job, but I never really felt an unction to look for a job. His answer to me was always, “wait.” That is what I did. I never expected him to give me the type of job that I ended up with. His timing was perfect and when the right job opened up, he told me to apply for it.

How many times have you prayed not really expecting an answer? Many of us pray in unbelief. It is like something within us hopes that God hears us and will answer our prayer, but we never really believe that he will give us our hearts desires.

Once again I am reminded of the job that I got. My sister had told me to really think about what I wanted to do and ask God to find me a job that I would dearly love. I half-heartedly did just that. But one day as I was working on a church newsletter for a friend, I remember thinking to myself how great it would be to have a job where I got paid for laying out pages and editing text. I couldn’t see any possibility of that happening and yet God made it happen. He is indeed a good God, a God of such magnificence.

One of the things that we can be sure about when praying in God’s will is that those prayers will be answered. No doubt about it! 

Have you ever felt a strong desire to ask God for something in particular? Something that you never would have thought of yourself? We can look to scripture and see that Jesus always prayed in accordance with his Father’s will. Over and over again he asked for things to bring glory to God. 

We read this in Matthew 6:9-13 as Jesus taught his disciples to pray. He said, “This then is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” 

It’s not about us, it is all about God. When God’s spirit puts a desire in your heart, pray it and continue to pray for it until you have peace that it is answered. Even though you may not see the result right away, God’s spirit will give you peace that what you have asked for will happen.

Are your prayers selfish? Are you asking for things for yourself and not others? I have been so guilty of praying like this especially lately. I think when we have financial needs or health concerns we tend to focus on ourselves. It is the natural thing to do. But as followers of Jesus we are no longer to follow the desires of the flesh. 

When I remember to do it, my selfish thoughts and prayers can be turned into prayers for others. I was having trouble with my sciatic nerve after I had surgery and each morning I woke up with pain. I was so focused on my pain that I forgot to pray for the needs of others. One day I was speaking to an elderly man at church who was suffering from sciatic nerve pain on both sides. I could almost feel his pain as he tried to stand.

God spoke to me through his pain and for the next few months every time I had a twinge of pain I would pray for Bob. It was amazing to me how my own pain dissipated while I was praying for him. 

The hard part is remembering to pray for someone going through what you are going through. It takes conscious effort and a dying to self to really pray unselfishly. I’m working on it, but it’s hard for me to remember to pray that way.

Are our prayers unanswered because we are not asking for the right things? When we are in doubt about how to pray for a specific need, we should always look to scripture and see what it says. 

For healing, look up all the healing scriptures you can find and pray them for the person or yourself. 

One night after working an 11 hour day, I came home from work tired and sick. My body felt like I was getting a flu bug. I knew that I was supposed to meet my grandson at his school for a grandparents breakfast the following morning and feared that I would have to stand him up. When I got up the next morning I began to speak healing to my body - I remembered that the Bible said, “by his wounds you are healed.” I remembered that in Psalm 103:2-3 it said, “Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits - who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases...” I claimed those words for myself and almost immediately my aches and pains went away. 

Father, You are the one who wants us to come to you and converse with you about everything. When we don’t know exactly how to pray, we know that your Spirit can lead us. When we pray with wrong motives or in a selfish way, we ask that you reveal that to us. We want our prayers to be powerful and effective, we want to pray according to your will and we want to hit the mark every time with our petitions. Help us in Jesus name. Amen

One Nation Under God

Week 42

What does the Bible say about the nation whose Lord is God? “Blessed is the nation whose God if the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance.” Psalm 33:12

Our nation was founded on God and religious freedom and yet we are being told today that to include “one nation under God” in our pledge of allegiance is pushing our beliefs on those who may not believe in God.

 George Washington prayed this prayer 

“Direct my thoughts, words and work,

wash away my sins in the immaculate

Blood of the Lamb, and purge my heart

by Thy Holy Spirit... Daily frame me more

and more into the likeness of Thy Son 

Jesus Christ.”

How can a nation, who has been blessed by God for over 200 years now turn our backs on him? Why would we want to?

In Genesis we read that God told Abraham that he is going to bless him so that he can be a blessing to others. He tells him that because of his faith in God and his willingness to obey him he is going to make a mighty nation of him. God made good on his promises to Abraham. He still makes good on the same promise to nations today.

If we think back to the founding of the United States we see that the leaders included Godly principles in the constitution. The United States was a nation which wanted to be obedient to God. We have, over the years, accepted people from every nation in the world. People who were being persecuted or treated unfairly have been embraced here.We continue to embrace those people, but something new has been added to the mix.

When new people came to this country years ago, they brought with them foreign ideas and beliefs. Many of those cultures have been adapted and assimilated into our culture making it a beautiful mix. There are many things that have enriched us all. We are a nation that enjoys a variety of foods, a deeper understanding of other cultures and a sense of belonging to a nation that allows us freedom to worship God in many different ways.

There is an underlying problem taking place in our nation as a result of this freedom to worship. The one true God is not being worshiped by everyone. False gods are springing up more often and are in direct opposition to the God of the universe.

Some people would argue with me about this, but I am going to state my belief clearly and with holy boldness. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is not the same god that the Muslims worship. They serve a false god. A god who is not a god of love and acceptance. Their god is not a merciful god or a gracious god. He is a god of hatred and a god of unbelievable anger. He wants nothing more than to kill all Christians, take their possessions and destroy this nation under God.

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” John 10:7-10

If those who have come to this country are not here to live and let live, if they are here to undermine the leadership, cause people to question our founding fathers and destroy the moral fiber of this nation, then they are not welcome here.

What did the Hebrew people do about false gods? We read about Elijah destroying the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18:18-40. The people of Israel were no longer trusting in God, they were believing in and worshiping other gods. Elijah, a prophet of God, told the people these words, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is god, follow him.” The people said nothing. (1 Kings 18:21)

We are at a crossroad in the United States. If we listen closely we can hear the spirit of Elijah asking us the same question. Who are we going to choose to follow?

Choosing the right road is hard, it requires a definite commitment. It may not be the most popular thing to do. In Elijah’s case, there were more prophets of Baal, the false god, than there were of the one true God. But when we know that our God is the one true God, we also know that he is more powerful than any false god and is able to do mighty things for those who follow him. 

The false god was not able to answer his prophets when they called to him to light the fire for the sacrifice. But the one true God was able to not only burn up the sacrifice but also the wood, the stones and the soil. 

Elijah stepped out in faith and prayed, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.” 1 Kings 18:36-37

As believers in the one true God and as citizens not only of the United States of America but also the Kingdom of God, we have the authority to ask the same thing on behalf of our nation. 

In 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 we hear these words, “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with have divine power to demolish strongholds.”

By the authority given to us by Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of the Universe, we hearby order anything that is not of God out of this country. You are not welcome here, you have no place here and we will not tolerate false gods in our midst.

Father God, 

We do believe that you are the one true God, we know that our country was founded on your principles and we believe that they are as good today as they were 200 years ago. We are drawing a line in the sand today and asking you to once again become the God of our nation. We are choosing to serve you and will not tolerate anything that is not of you. We invite the spirit of Elijah to spread through our nation bringing down false idols and destroying false gods wherever they are. We welcome you as the leader of our nation and know that with you as our leader we are safe and secure. We give you praise and we bow before your throne. In the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.

Clothing for the 'Church'

Week 41

The universal Church of Christ is chosen of God and as such, we are instructed in the Bible how to behave as instruments of God. Colossians 3 tells us that we are to set our minds on things above, not on earthly things. For our lives are now hidden with Christ in God. And we will one day appear with Christ in Glory.

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues, put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” Colossians 3:12-14

Compassion:

The Biblical definition of compassion is to be merciful, to show tender love. God has shown us as believers this mercy and tender love in his forgiveness of our sins. The Greek definition is to have pity or feel distressed through the ills of others. Jesus showed this compassion again and again with the crowds that pressed around him. He healed them, he taught them, he touched them.

We are to do likewise with all those around us. Who can you show compassion to today? Who needs to receive mercy and tender love? 

Kindness:

We all know what kindness is - Jesus taught us to do unto others as we would have others do unto us. Goodness is lumped together with kindness and is expected of believers. Yet how many people do we treat unkindly each and every day? 

What can we do to show those around us a kindness today? When I worked full time, I kept a basket of candy on my desk at work. It wasn't a big deal, but many times during the day someone will poke their head in my office and take a piece of candy. They knew that it was there for them because I wanted to show them kindness. There were no strings attached, no one had to do anything to earn a piece of candy it was just there because I wanted to show them kindness.

In time, the basket of candy turned into a joint project. There were many weeks when others brought in candy and asked me to refill the basket because they wanted to share also. It is really contagious - I guess that’s why we are supposed to be kind.

Humility:

The Bible tells us in Proverbs 11:2 “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” “Humility comes before honor,” reads Proverbs 15:33. Humility is a way of saying that we think others are more worthy than us. Webster defines humility as the state of being humble. It is ranking ourselves lower than others. How often do we humble ourselves? In this day and age it is almost unheard of. We are taught from infancy that we are worthy, that we are a person of value and that we should live our lives accordingly.

Think of someone you know who is humble. Maybe it is a teacher, a parent or grandparent, someone you knew growing up that seemed to lower themselves beneath others when, in fact, they should have been lifted up. Jesus is the ultimate in humility. He left a throne in heaven to lower himself and become like us - why? To save us from our pride. Now that is humility. 

How can the church do that? We could leave our padded pews and our beautiful sanctuaries and walk with our neighbors in the slums and ghettos. We could be Jesus to those who need to know a savior.

Gentleness:

Vines dictionary gives this definition of gentleness; “characterizing a nurse with trying children or a teacher with refractory scholars or parents toward their children.” It implies equity and justice and an active dealing with others.

In thinking about the above definition, it seems that those we are to deal gently with are those we are trying to teach. Those we have authority over. Those who are looking toward us for training. What an opportunity to show the gentleness of Jesus to those in our care.

Our neighbors, co-workers, family members and friends who are non-believers or new in the faith would do well to watch us model this character trait of Jesus. Many expect this characteristic from us. I don’t know how many times I heard one co-worker, in particular, say that she is surprised at me when I failed to show gentleness to those around me. It should be a given for all believers.

Patience:

Patience is nearly always learned through trials. It is a characteristic of Jesus that may be one of the most difficult for some of us to learn. Sometimes we undergo a series of trials to help teach us patience. As we seek to become more Christ-like, we realize just how patient he has been with us. He doesn’t hurry us to become like him. He waits for us to make mistakes and learn. He stands beside us patiently waiting until we finally ‘get it.’ 

How patient are we with one another, especially within the body of Christ? I know that I get upset when I see a brother or sister in Christ not maturing as quickly as I would like for them to grow. I just don’t see sometimes how they can make the same mistakes over and over again. I wonder who is looking at me thinking the same thing? 

How can we clothe ourselves in patience? What can we do to become more congenial with one another? Maybe just a reminder now and then of just how patient Christ has been with us would help. When you hear someone berating a brother or sister for making the same mistakes over and over, remind them that Jesus stood by us when we made mistakes and expects us to come along side our brothers and sisters to encourage them when they fail.

Bear with one another:

Vines calls it forbearance and says it means to hold up, to bear with. It also means to refrain from doing something. As a church family, we will have to deal with one another through some majors trials and set-backs in each others lives. 

I am remembering a time when I was going through a difficult transition in my life. My sister-in-law had come to stay with us for an indefinite period of time. She was a beautiful Christian woman, but it is extremely hard for two women, with differing viewpoints, to share a kitchen and a home. Needless to say, I was grumpy and out of sorts on many occasions and was able to receive ‘forbearance’ from my small group. They literally held me up during that time although they could have and maybe did want me to just drop out of the group, they prayed with me and with my sister-in-law and taught me what forbearance was all about.

Love over all:

Love is the covering that holds all the Christ-like characteristics in place. We can be compassionate, kind, gentle, humble and patient, but without love for one another and for those that God puts in our pathway, we can never truly be Christ-like. 

Does this mean that we have to love everyone? Well, no not exactly. Jesus can do that for us, but he will use us to reflect his love. Have you ever known anyone that you just absolutely couldn’t love? Someone who grated on your nerves and literally made you crazy? We are all different sort of personalities, God made us different. He knew that some people would be more compatible with us than others, but he also knew that those who drive us crazy can help us grow in Christ-like character traits. It will be during those times of extreme aggravation that we will call upon Jesus to be compassionate through us, to help us be kind and gentle when we don’t want to, to be humble and lift those who are making us crazy to the throne. Jesus will be the one we call upon to help us be patient just as he was with us.

Lord Jesus, Thank you for clothing your church with the qualities that you exhibit. We want to be a spotless church and we want God to look at us and see you. We ask for your help and your guidance. And we thank you for your unending love for us. Amen.

Workers in the harvest field

Week 40

Sometimes our greatest fear when we decide to follow Jesus and give our lives to him is that he will send us to a foreign country. That he would make us missionaries to Africa, South America or some poverty stricken  third world country seems like the it would be one of the hardest jobs in the world. And maybe for some it would be, but God calls all of us to the mission field. And wherever he calls us, he will equip us for the job he has for us to do.

When Jesus walked on the earth as one of us he was only able to be in one place at a time. In Matthew 9:35-38 we hear what he has to say to us today. Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples (that means you and I), “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send workers into his harvest field.”

Where is the harvest field that he is sending you? It could be in your own neighborhood, it could be a foreign country. It is up to each one of us to find out where it is that we are to serve and to give our whole lives to that cause whatever it is.

I remember when friends of ours knew that God was calling them to the mission field. They weren’t exactly sure where he wanted them to go and they began to explore the possibilities. It was a process and because they had three children the decision became a family decision. They agreed that unless they all felt called to a particular place they would not go. Sure enough the Lord called each one of them and within 2 years they set off to Uganda where God equipped them, used them and provided for all their needs.

Some of the ways that God provides for the needs of missionaries is for those of us who are left behind to pray for them daily. To remember them as they undergo hardships and transitions. To support them financially and to encourage them in the harvest field to continue the work of the Lord.

Some of us are called to the mission field not as missionaries ourselves, but as support groups for those who are serving. There have been many times that I asked the Lord to use me. I told him that I was willing to sell all that I have and go wherever he wanted to send me. Instead, he put missionaries in my pathway and I have been able to pray for many people who are serving God. We have missionary friends in Belfast, Northern Ireland; Japan; Africa; Turkey; Haiti and Russia. 

Some we give financial support to, others we give prayer support, but all of them are in our hearts almost daily as we think about them giving the Lord their lives so far from homes and family members.

What is God asking you to do for missions? There are many mission opportunities close to home as well. A local church has a free clothing ministry giving us opportunities to share clothing with those in our own neighborhood who have needs. We have a local food pantry which is always in need of donations. We are also able to help those in Appalachia with donations of food, clothing and furniture. 

Locally, Habitat for Humanity is continuing to build affordable home for those who are currently living in substandard conditions. Volunteer workers are needed to help build these homes. You not only receive on-the-job training, but you can have a wonderful sense of accomplishment and satisfaction in knowing that you were one of the workers in the harvest field.

Is God calling you to a harvest field? I truly believe that he calls each one of us to some sort of field. We are, after all, to produce fruit for the kingdom of God. In the past, I have been a literacy tutor and have been worked with a young woman to improve her reading skills and her life skills as well. I had many opportunities to share the gospel message with her. I invited her to church services and prayed with her about concerns in her life.

Just as Jesus saw that those around him were harassed and helpless and that they needed a shepherd, we have only to look around us and see the same thing. Maybe they are people you work with, maybe your children or grandchildren, neighbors. Wherever you see people who are lost, helpless, hopeless, harassed, that is a mission field.

When our oldest son went to prison, the first thing that I thought about for him was the enormous opportunity that awaited him. I knew that his faith needed to grow before he could meet the needs of those around him, but I shared with him that he was in the middle of a huge mission field and that God could use him right where he was to reach lost, hopeless people.

Over the years he has ministered to many of his fellow inmates in amazing ways. His experiences have led our family to reach out to many of those men in other ways, becoming a loving family for them. Something they had never had before.

Look around you, what field are you standing in the middle of right now? Who do you see or know that needs the touch of Jesus? What can you do to be Jesus to someone? Ask God to reveal these things to you and to show you what it is he wants you to do to enlarge his kingdom. He wants to equip you, he wants to lead you and he wants you to be one of the workers.

If we would all get over the fact that God may send us to a foreign mission field and just be excited over the possibilities of how he can use us, then maybe the harvest would be gathered into the storehouse and Jesus would come back for his church.

Holy God,

I give you praise today and thank you for your promises. I thank you for the prayer that Jesus taught us about asking the Lord of the harvest to send workers into the harvest field. I know that the fields are ripe and ready to be harvested, I want to be one of those workers who bring in the harvest. Equip me and show me where the field is that you want me to work in. I cannot do the work by myself, I need your direction and your provision, but I have willing hands and a willing heart. Use me to enlarge your kingdom, in Jesus name. Amen

God at the Center

Week 39

In the book of Revelation, the author, John, speaks of the new heaven and the new earth. In describing the Holy City, Jerusalem, he puts his vision into words that have always intrigued me.

“One of the angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, ‘Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.’ And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as a crystal.” Revelation 21:9-11

Can we even imagine the brilliance that John described? It had to be a remarkable thing to behold. Earthly words can never describe heavenly things completely. Yet we need to get an idea of what John was telling us. This is our future home that he is describing. 

“The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long. He measured its wall and it was 144 cubits thick, by man’s measurement, which the angel was using.” In Revelation 21:15-21 John further describes the city. 

But the amazing part to me is the size of the city. In my Bible, the New International Version, it explains that 12,000 stadia are equal to 1,400 miles. Think about it, that is halfway across the United States. A city that is 1,400 miles square. That is one huge city. We think of New York and Chicago as big, but the new Jerusalem will be as big as half of the continental U.S.

Now keep in mind a city that is 1,400 square miles and then listen to the rest of the scripture. “I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light and the Lamb is its lamp.” God shines bright enough to illuminate a city which is the size of half the United States - we won’t need the sun or the moon because God himself is going to provide all the light we need while in the city.

“The nations will walk by its light and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will the gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. The glory and the honor of the nations will be brought into it. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” 

The earth is going to be ruled from this city. When we think back to Genesis and the time that God put man on the earth, his intention was to dwell among men and lead us and guide us. He wanted to commune with us from the beginning and when his kingdom is established on the earth that will finally be possible. 

It is hard to envision a city on earth with the God of the universe living and ruling among us. There is a song that says better is one day in your court than a thousand elsewhere. And Psalm 84:10-11 explains it this way, “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.

Just thinking about God being in the center of his Holy City, shining for the entire world to see and being available for us to come to is overwhelming. If our names are written in the Lamb’s book, we will be permitted into his presence. 

Now I don’t know too much about the universe, I am not an astrologer, but I do know that God has centered around the nation of Israel on this earth. He chose the Jewish people to be his inheritance and he promised to give the land around Jerusalem to his people. His temple was established in Jerusalem and I am almost certain that is where it will continue. 

God doesn’t change. He is eternal, his will is everlasting. He wants to be at the center of everyone’s heart. He wants to be the one that we come to when we have hurts, problems, unforgiveness and fears. He wants to be the temple that we run to.

We can only imagine what the new Jerusalem will be like. John the revelator gives us an idea, but he is speaking in terms that are relevant to his day and they may be a little different for us. 

But this much is true. “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. he will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:3b-4.

What a wonderful promise God has given us through this last book in the new testament. And what does he require of us to live with him? A belief in Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior. A belief in his blood as the cleansing agent that brings us into a right relationship with God. A desire to live our lives for him and a desire to be obedient and do the things that God asks us to do.

Heavenly Father,

We look forward to the day when we will be in your presence for eternity. Our finite minds cannot envision all that you have in store for us. It seems far fetched and incomprehensible and yet we know that you are a God of the impossible. We want to spend eternity with you and walk on the streets of pure gold, but it seems like something that will happen far into the future. Your word doesn’t tell us when to expect this time. We only know that we are to live our lives as Jesus taught us. 

We want to be more like Christ and bring more and more people into the kingdom. We don’t want anyone to be left out, looking into the city, but not able to enter. Your city is going to be big enough to hold a lot of people.

Help us everyday to seek your face so that when that glorious day arrives and we see you, we will know you and you will know us. Amen.