How to Prepare for Heaven - 170-175

170.  Am I willing to be sealed by the Holy Spirit in my forehead, or mind, so that I am ready for eternity?

• 2 Corinthians 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
• Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the Word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
• Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
• Revelation 7:3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
• Revelation 9:4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

Holy Spirit, set Your seal on my heart, engrave Your Word deep so I am firmly and immovably entrenched in Your truth. Seal up my mind, and fortify it against the deceptions of the devil. I desire to have the seal of God stamped in my frontal lobes so that I am safe to save for eternity. Sanctify my thoughts so that Your seal may remain permanently.

171.  Have I firmly decided that I want to be one of the few, and not go along with the crowd?

• Matthew 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
• Matthew 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
• Luke 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
• 1 Corinthians 1:26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
• Revelation 3:4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

Dear Lord, You are calling to me to be faithful to You, even though the vast majority are heading in the opposite direction. It's not easy to go against the crowd. You are urging me to strive, to put forth extreme effort, to keep my garments white, washed in Your righteousness. Only by Your empowering grace is this possible. Empower me to be willing to stand alone, to press on in the face of rejection, ridicule and persecution. For You are truly worthy of my loyalty and dedication. You are my ultimate reward!

172.  Am I seeking for purity and holiness, which are required to see God?

• Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
• 2 Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
• 1 Thessalonians 3:13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
• Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Father, I hear Your sweet voice calling me up higher, even to purity and holiness. I long to see You, my precious God, with holy, pure eyes. Teach me to grasp Your powerful promises and claim them for myself, so that by faith all the filthiness of sin will be cleansed out of me. Direct my eyes higher so that I delight in Your purity and holiness. Make sin hateful to me. Let my longing to see Your face squelch any impure thoughts from here on.

173.  Does Jesus want me to be ready for His soon coming?

• Luke 12:40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
• Luke 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
• Luke 21:35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
• Luke 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
• Revelation 3:3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

Dear Jesus, You are coming soon, and You want me to be ready, so I won't be caught off guard. Energize me to pay close attention to Your Word, and not get caught up in secular activities. Teach me to put spiritual pursuits at the top of my priority list. Guide me to keep Your Words in my heart, and hold them fast, so that I will not be unprepared when You come again. I want to be ready and eagerly waiting with my spiritual eyes ever on You.

174.  How can I prepare for the end of the world?

• Matthew 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
• Matthew 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
• 2 Timothy 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
• 1 Peter 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
• 2 Peter 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

Dear Lord, help me, teach me to be sober, and to know what it means to watch unto prayer. This is a heart attitude I must experience personally. Teach me to love the thought of Your soon return with eager anticipation. Let my lips whisper a prayer in the morning, noon and evening, to keep my heart in tune, because I know not when You will come.

175.  Should I be willing to die rather than to dishonor God?

• Psalm 63:3 Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.
• Daniel 3:17, 18 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
• John 12:25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
• Acts 21:13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
• Hebrews 11:35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
• Revelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Oh Lord, truly Your lovingkindness, Your glorious future reward is better than this earthly life. As the 3 Hebrew worthies of old, help me to be willing to go to the flame rather than to dishonor You. Don't let me count on this earthly life. Strengthen me to be willing to lay down my earthly life for You, if need be. Keep me from accepting human deliverance if it means compromising my loyalty to You. Empower me to be faithful unto death, that You may give me a crown of life.

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