Dear Ones,
Hope you have a peace-filled day. I just made a rheubarb cake that Al is sampling and a veggie stir fry and soon going downstairs for coffee and choc raspberries. This afternoon we are going to friends for coffee and fellowship.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Not all our desires will be satisfied in this life, and we all need to wait patiently for heaven where every longing will be fully met. I know I often have to confess to the Lord that I am selfish and want things comfortable and to go well in my life but that can lead to more self-centeredness. I am reading Christian psychologist, Larry Crabb’s book, Waiting for Heaven, and he writes that we shouldn’t get cozy in this world but to spend more time fixing our eyes on what is to come. In Heb 13:14 (Message) it says, “This ‘insider world” is not our home. We have our eyes peeled for the City about to come.”
We need to keep heaven in the forefront of our minds and it will cause us to live differently, less focused on self and more on the Lord. Jesus never promised us that this life would be easy and flow how we want it to. In fact, he said we can expect trials and testing. Paul gives us examples of those who lost their lives for Christ’s sake. No, we are not entitled people in this world, but what we have awaiting us some day lacks words to even describe. In the mean time we need to decrease and die to self which is not easy and a life-long struggle.
But think of it, when a loved one dies, how our attention goes to the eternal, and our focus is off of this world. We get in touch with the larger story and come to know that this is just the foretaste of what is ahead. We therefore need to find our satisfaction in the Lord, not other people and things, as we wait for heaven where our souls are fully satisfied and deepest desires met.
We have the promise of Jesus’ return who will make all things new, For now, we wait for that day, not expecting a pain free life in this world. Churches today however, can put the focus on ourselves and what makes us happy and excited, rather than having our hearts open to the Lord. Jesus endured the cross for the joy that was set before Him, as He would be forever with His Father; and we too must endure many things in this life as we anticipate what is yet to come.
Challenge for today: Spend some time pondering what awaits you in heaven.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy
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