– Abraham Kuyper

When most people think about heaven, they think about pearly gates, angels, clouds, or streets of gold. The Bible certainly uses beautiful imagery to describe heaven, but what stands out to me most isn’t what heaven looks like. It’s what heaven feels like. In heaven, no one is carrying shame. No one is fighting cancer. No one is anxious about paying bills. No one is lonely or grieving, addicted or afraid.

The book of Revelation paints an unforgettable picture of that future. John writes that God “will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain” because the old order of things has passed away (Revelation 21:4). Can you imagine that? No divorce, death, panic attacks, or pain. That’s the world God created, but sin broke it. So for now, we live in a fallen world where people receive difficult diagnoses. Children lose parents. Marriages fall apart. Anxiety keeps people awake at night. Wars rage. Addictions destroy families. 

Every one of us knows what it’s like to experience the pain of living in a broken world, and we could all use a little bit of heaven today. That’s why Jesus told us to pray, “on earth as it is heaven.” He wants us, and the people around us to get a taste of what’s to come.

This is the part of the Lord’s prayer where we look around at the people in our lives. It’s called intercession. We’re asking God to step into the mess, the pain, the injustice, and the sin of the world. So who needs a taste of heaven today? Maybe it’s the couple whose marriage is barely holding together or the single mom trying to survive. I’m certain you know people who could use a taste of heaven today. Now is the time to pray for heaven to invade their life. 

This is also a wonderful time to pray for people who don’t yet know Christ. We don’t simply want them to experience a glimpse of heaven today—we want them to spend eternity there. Perhaps the greatest way heaven touches earth is when someone discovers the grace of Jesus for the very first time.

Pray By Name

There’s a well-known story about the great evangelist D. L. Moody that he made it a habit to carry a list of one hundred people he knew who did not yet have a personal relationship with Jesus. Day after day, year after year, he prayed for them by name, asking God to draw each one to Himself. As time passed, people on the list began coming to faith. One by one, their names were crossed off. By the end of Moody’s life, ninety-six of the one hundred had become Christians. But here’s the best part, when Moody died in 1899, four names still remained. At his funeral, the message of the gospel was shared, and those final four people responded in faith.

Maybe you should start a list. Write down the name of a child, a sibling, a coworker, a neighbor, or a friend who doesn’t yet know Christ. Pray for them consistently. Ask God to let heaven come into their life today. 

As a pastor, I could tell you hundreds of stories of people coming to Christ who everyone else thought was too far gone. I’ve even had spouses tell me they were praying for their spouse, but in their hearts of hearts weren’t sure even God could reach them. But over and over again, heaven shows up, and the person who once seemed like a lost cause, becomes a citizen of heaven. So don’t give up. Don’t lose hope. Whoever you’re praying for, keep praying. You never know what day, God might answer that prayer.

I’ve discovered that something else happens when you consistently pray for people by name. God begins changing you too. You become more patient and compassionate towards them. You’re more aware of opportunities to encourage them or have a meaningful conversation. Sometimes you find yourself texting them because they suddenly come to mind, only to discover they were having a difficult day. Other times you simply become a better listener because your heart has already been softened through prayer. Prayer has a way of preparing both the person you’re praying for and the person doing the praying.

Feel like Heaven

Let me challenge you with one more thought. What if people felt closer to heaven after spending time with you?

The early Christians had a goal of what they called, “equilibrium” or “imperturbable calm” to describe the kind of life Christians should live. They went to great lengths to try and experience this calm. Many of them moved to the desert and chose a life of great sacrifice and seclusion. They wanted to experience what the Apostle Paul described as a “peace that passes understanding.” You aren’t moving to the desert, but you can still possess peace. In a world that often feels like its’ spinning out of control, what better glimpse of heaven than a person who has perfect peace. Maybe one of the greatest ways we bring heaven to earth is by refusing to let earth steal heaven from us.

So what if your home felt like heaven, a place your children felt peace, or a place that stood out in your neighborhood as different. You won’t be perfect. You’ll lose your temper at times, you’ll still experience fear or worry. But as you grow in your faith and depend on the Holy Spirit, you can possess the peace of heaven in the middle of a chaotic day. 

Take a few minutes and pray for all the places and people who need to experience heaven today. 

“In my home as it is in heaven.”
“In my workplace as it is in heaven.”
“In my school as it is in heaven.”
“In my neighborhood as it is in heaven.”
“In my marriage as it is in heaven.”
“In my friendships as it is in heaven.”
“In my church as it is in heaven.”

Practice:
Write down the names of three people who need a taste of heaven today. Pray for each of them by name, then ask God if there’s one practical way you can bring a little bit of heaven into their day—a phone call, a text, a meal, an invitation, or a kind word.

Prayer:
Father, thank You for the promise that one day You will make all things new. Until that day, help me bring little glimpses of heaven into the lives of the people around me. I lift up the names on my heart today. You know their fears, their hurts, their questions, and their needs. Bring Your peace where there is anxiety, Your hope where there is despair, Your healing where there is pain, and Your grace where there is guilt. Make me the kind of person who leaves people feeling encouraged, loved, and closer to You after we’ve been together. Let my home, my work, my conversations, and my life become places where heaven breaks through. In Jesus’ name, Amen.