A lady that is very well respected in our church, whom I will refer to as D, spoke to us on Sunday about prayer. A lot of what she said pierced my heart - her statements were so black and white! However, this little tidbit has really been on my mind since then:
"When we come to God in prayer, we do not instruct Him. We ask Him for His will in it as it would be in heaven."
What does that mean? The thought that broadcast itself across my mind immediately after D made that statement was that when we ask for His will to be done as it is in Heaven, we are asking to live in the reality of a perfect Heaven.
I know that thought wasn't mine because I don't think that way, or speak that way. I believe it was a download from the Holy Spirit. :)
What do we know about Heaven? Revelation 21 says that Heaven is God living and dwelling with us, calling us His people, His children, His family. Heaven is God being right beside us and wiping our tears away. Sickness and death have no more place, and there is an end to mourning and crying and pain. When Jesus takes the throne, He removes the old order - the way Satan has been running the world. He exclaims that He is making everything completely new! The Greek word for new here is kainos, which means "new" in the sense of form - making everything of fresh, quality, unworn substance. So, it would be like having all your clothes, but right off the rack with the sales tag attached, or having your car, but completely new, zero mileage, sporting the new smell, parked sleek and shiny in your driveway. Only, it's not just material stuff - it's nature too. Imagine all the mountains and flowers and grass and clouds and even the sunset being as it was when He first spoke them into existence. And I think it goes for us too. All those chickenpox scars? Gone! No more need for contacts, allergy medication, canes or wheelchairs. Jesus makes everything is new! Everything!
Bearing that in mind, consider the implications of asking to live in the reality of a perfect Heaven. Wouldn't that mean living in a superior reality? Believers completely embracing the fact that God loves them like a Daddy. Sick people being made well, instantly. Dead people coming back to life. A perfect garden, without worrying about pests. Outrageous comfort from a big, holy God who loves to dote on us.
I'm not perfect, and I don't pretend to have any kind of handle on living in that reality, but, boy, do I want it...and I think it starts with asking for His will.
