The joys of heaven 1

“We are citizens of heaven.” Php 3:20 NLT

The story is told of a pastor who asked his congregation, “How many of you want to go to heaven?” Everyone raised their hand except one little boy. The pastor said, “Son, don’t you want to go to heaven?” He replied, “Yes, but I thought you were getting up a batch to go right now!” Let’s be honest, we don’t think or talk much about heaven until a loved one dies and goes there, or we grow old and feel like we have fulfilled our assignment here on earth. Then we feel a tug pulling us heavenward. And we should.

On average, we will spend about seventy or eighty years here, whereas we will spend eternity there.

“We shall always be with the Lord” (1Th 4:17 NKJV).

Here on earth we get a mixed scorecard; sometimes we do well, other times not so well. But in heaven, we will be just like Jesus. “We are citizens of heaven…we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own” (Php 3:20-21 NLT).

C. S. Lewis wrote that in heaven each of us will be a “dazzling, radiant, immortal creature, pulsating all through with such energy and joy and wisdom and love as we cannot now imagine.” All the patriarchs, prophets, and preachers in the Bible longed for heaven. Zechariah describes it in these words: “They’ll become…like gemstones in a crown, catching all the colors of the sun. Then…they’ll shine!” (Zec 9:16-17 MSG).

Question: If you were to die today, would you go to heaven? You can, by putting your trust in Jesus Christ.

Steps to forgiveness (2)

“Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Lk 6:37 NIV

Here are three more steps to forgiveness:

(1) Accept people as they are and don’t try to change them. You say, “I’ll only forgive them if they change.” That just keeps you tied to them, obsessing over what they did and demanding they act in ways that you approve of. Nothing makes people less willing to change than when you try to control them and demand that they meet your requirements. Changing people isn’t your job—it’s God’s job! Your job is to choose to forgive and leave the outcome in God’s hands. The formula for healing is simple: forgive, let go, and let God.

(2) See your offender as God’s tool for your growth. It’s easier to forgive someone when you stop seeing them as Satan’s agent sent to destroy you, and begin seeing them as God’s instrument to develop you. The life of Joseph speaks to this principle. The path that led him from the pit to the palace was paved by injustice, disappointment, and betrayal. But God used each painful circumstance to get him to his destiny. And God can do that for you.

(3) Try reconciling with your offender. Reconciliation is God’s nature. “When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son” (Ro 5:10). And what God did for you, He wants you to do for whoever you are at odds with. Jesus made reconciliation a top priority by saying, “Leave your gift there before the altar…First be reconciled…then come and offer your gift” (Mt 5:24 NKJV). Yes, it will take selflessness and humility on your part, but the return is worth the investment!

Steps to forgiveness (1)

“Forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone.” Col 3:13 NIV

The misery of living with unforgiveness in your heart always lasts longer than the pain of the offense. Always! When you hold on to resentment, you open the door to depression and physical illness. Forgiving brings healing to your wounds and restores your joy.

Here are two steps to help you forgive:

(1) Remember that you have been unconditionally forgiven. Recall God’s grace toward you, and the price paid for your forgiveness. By refusing to show mercy, you’re like the man Jesus said was forgiven an enormous debt, yet was unwilling to forgive another man’s paltry indebtedness to him (See Mt 18:23-34). The grace God has extended to you leaves you no grounds whatsoever to refuse the same grace to the one who hurt you.

(2) Release the offender from the debt they owe you. You may be totally justified in saying, “They owe me for what they did!” Your friends may agree. The law may agree, and you may be thinking that the only way your offender will “learn to do what’s right” is if they’re made to pay for the wrong they did. But as long as you’re holding on to your “rights,” you’re chained to the past. It has you in its grip, and your future is being held hostage to the past’s control over you. Your offender’s sin against you was paid for by the same sacrificial love that canceled your sin debt, so they have the same need and right to forgiveness that you have. And there is more; forgiveness is not just for their benefit, but for yours:

“Forgive, and you will be forgiven” (Lk 6:37 NIV).

This is a season to start afresh…Be born again to realm of possibilities in the knowledge of God…You haven’t reached your full potential yet❗There is still more you can do

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-24jyt-1353a6d
God loves you , and he is waiting for you to submit your ways to him so he can prosper you🙏