Have you ever imaginatively pictured arriving in heaven, and seeing people you have prayed for, those for which you prayed that they would be saved?
I find this exercise to be edifying and uplifting.
I often pray in pictures to help me focus. When I pray for a person to be saved, I might imagine them bowing down at the foot of the cross or I see them attending church or reading a Bible joyfully.
We are told that when we pray, we should believe that we receive what we prayed for, and fully expect it to happen. Mentally picturing it happening helps me strengthen my confidence in receiving.
I pray for the salvation of some individuals who are very far from God and deeply lost in sins. I even pray for individuals who have whole-heartedly embraced and devoted themselves to darkness. One deceased friend in particular hated Christianity. I was closer to him than I should have been. But I do not see anyone as hopeless.
In these cases, I imagine myself entering heaven and being extremely delighted to see them come to greet me. I picture them smiling and thanking me for praying for them. I know I cannot take any special credit for their salvation, for other Christians probably prayed for them and witnessed to them. I look forward to hearing the story about their conversion to Christ.
The reach of Christ’s love is far beyond anything we could ever understand. Jesus is always working in the background of their lives, and at the proper time, He sweetly captures their souls. I do not want any soul to perish. I want heaven to be full and hell to be empty.
I even pray about dead people. I know death seals your fate, but I pray that deceased friends cried out to the Lord and got saved before they departed this life.
“Wow! You made it!” I exclaim. “God is so wonderful and merciful! His power to rescue us is astonishing! Praise the Lord of love and forgiveness!”
I call this “mentally populating heaven.”
Do you ever pray in pictures or imagine meeting friends and loved ones in heaven?
I find this exercise to be edifying and uplifting.
I often pray in pictures to help me focus. When I pray for a person to be saved, I might imagine them bowing down at the foot of the cross or I see them attending church or reading a Bible joyfully.
We are told that when we pray, we should believe that we receive what we prayed for, and fully expect it to happen. Mentally picturing it happening helps me strengthen my confidence in receiving.
I pray for the salvation of some individuals who are very far from God and deeply lost in sins. I even pray for individuals who have whole-heartedly embraced and devoted themselves to darkness. One deceased friend in particular hated Christianity. I was closer to him than I should have been. But I do not see anyone as hopeless.
In these cases, I imagine myself entering heaven and being extremely delighted to see them come to greet me. I picture them smiling and thanking me for praying for them. I know I cannot take any special credit for their salvation, for other Christians probably prayed for them and witnessed to them. I look forward to hearing the story about their conversion to Christ.
The reach of Christ’s love is far beyond anything we could ever understand. Jesus is always working in the background of their lives, and at the proper time, He sweetly captures their souls. I do not want any soul to perish. I want heaven to be full and hell to be empty.
I even pray about dead people. I know death seals your fate, but I pray that deceased friends cried out to the Lord and got saved before they departed this life.
“Wow! You made it!” I exclaim. “God is so wonderful and merciful! His power to rescue us is astonishing! Praise the Lord of love and forgiveness!”
I call this “mentally populating heaven.”
Do you ever pray in pictures or imagine meeting friends and loved ones in heaven?
