Praise & Pray

I've always wanted to go to heaven. Perhaps that's a result of my time in children's Bible school and all the lessons taught there. Whatever the case, I've always known heaven as the place to be. Once I became a practicing born-again Christian (meaning I chose to apply God's word in my life intentionally), I knew I needed to be serious about where I wanted to spend eternity, and hell could not be my destination. After all, Jesus literally died to provide everlasting life with God in heaven, and I wasn't going to squander that privilege.

To that end, a recent Bible study proved insightful. There was a verse in the Beatitudes that stood out to me and gave me hope. It was Matthew 5:3 - God blesses those people who depend only on him. They belong to the kingdom of heaven! (CEV). Listen, the Lord is always teaching me about trusting Him completely, so this verse was very timely when I read it. I couldn't help but notice its call to depend on the Lord alone and that those people belong to the kingdom of heaven.

Now Matthew 5:3 is phrased differently in other Bible translations/versions. For instance, the Amplified Bible states, “Blessed [spiritually prosperous, happy, to be admired] are the poor in spirit [those devoid of spiritual arrogance, those who regard themselves as insignificant], for theirs is the kingdom of heaven [both now and forever]." Still, the message remains the same - that a person who doesn't overlook their need for the Lord will inherit heaven. This verse teaches that to reach heaven, a person must totally rely on the Lord. They must reject pride and ego to walk humbly before God, as stated in Micah 6:8.

And so, if you have prayed to reach heaven, don't be surprised if you go through experiences where the only way through is to completely depend on God and God alone. He might put you in circumstances where the people you would normally rely upon just can't help you. The situation could be one where only a miracle could resolve it. One way or the other, the Lord will bring you to a point where you have no other option but to look to Him alone. God isn't doing this to punish you or cause unnecessary suffering. Instead, He's blessing you with a pathway to His rewards here on earth and also providing a ticket to heaven.

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This need to submit to God and rely upon Him shouldn't shock any of us. God warns in Jeremiah 17:5 that anyone who depends on human beings and whose heart turns away from Him will be cursed. We are also told in Romans 8:14 that those who are led by His Spirit and therefore rely upon Him qualify to be called His children. Thus, this issue of relying upon the Lord is a serious matter. No wonder He lets us know that those who obey this instruction belong to heaven.

I don't know what you are going through or what you've been through, but if you are reading this message, I want to encourage you to take Matthew 5:3 to heart. Write it down somewhere you'll see it often. Let it remind you to trust in God and not in yourself, another person, or some entity. Psalm 20:7 - Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. This verse has proven true in my life over and over. I've seen God make me promises and keep every one of them, even when I messed up (and I did that a lot). Also consider 2 Timothy 2:13 - If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is (NLT). He's faithful and can be trusted.

I wonder how He will call on me to depend on Him in 2026. If I'm honest, He's already arranged my life so I have nobody but Him to call in times of need. As I am now armed with the wisdom of Matthew 5:3, I understand that His reason for this is to ensure my entry into heaven. I know that no matter what happens, He will help me to stand firm in faith and the knowledge that the faithful God who came through for me in the past will come through again and again. Plus, as I fix my face like flint against anything that comes my way, my complete reliance on Him means that the King of heaven must move mountains to give me - a stakeholder in heaven - complete victory.

God bless you. I pray you walk into 2026 reassured of God's faithfulness and favor. I pray that you will live a life pleasing to Him. One that causes Him to rejoice over you. I pray that you will remember your Jericho Moments - those times God worked miracles for you. I pray the Lord will reveal Himself to you afresh and that you will draw nearer to Him and be blessed beyond your comprehension. I also pray that your relationship with God, His Son, and Spirit will deepen. That you will remember your name is written in heavenly books and that you belong to God's heavenly kingdom, IJMN, Amen.

As you await fellowship at Noon EST, consider reading the Altar Call below and the following previous P&P messages:

1. Rely on God, Not Man

2. Rely on God

3. The Tormentor

4. P&P 200: The Ticket to Heaven

5. Acknowledge God

6. Don't Turn From God

7. A Proud Father

8. Is Your Name Written In Heaven?

9. Stop Living Like A Pagan

10. The Lie That Heaven Is Beyond Reach

11. Lessons From Gehazi's Life

12. Topic: Suffering

13. Topic: God's Rewards