Preparation for Heaven Part 4 of 5: How Then Do We Need to Pray and Seek God?

I pray you have been particularly affected and challenged by the previous posts and the quotes with thoughts on heaven. I found myself crying out, "I want to be the kind of person who treasures You above all things, Lord! I want to say 'I don't want to go to heaven if YOU'RE not there Jesus!' Be my all in all!"

Today a quote helps us see what Scriptures we can set our minds on to make us this kind of people. Scriptures we can meditate on and fill our minds and hearts with that we might become the kind of people who long for heaven because we long for Jesus.

"May the church of Jesus Christ [say, pray, set their minds on] with increasing intensity, 'The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup' (Ps. 16:5). 'As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God' (Ps. 42:1). 'We would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord' (2 Cor. 5:8). 'My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better' (Phil 1:23)."

Sometimes when I read places like this in Scripture, I'll try to write them out and make them into prayers. When David didn't have the joy of salvation, he didn't pretend he did, he asked God to give it to him: "restore unto me the joy of thy salvation!" (Ps. 52). I encourage you to take time and pray through the above Scriptures, and example would be: "Lord, I ask that you would help me to make you my chosen portion and cup! Above any and all things let YOU oh Christ be my chief delight and joy. Increase my affection and love for you that I might cry this with the Psalmist!"

Tomorrow one more post in this series...

--J. Piper, God is the Gospel pgs. 16-17