For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Philippians 3:20

In the midst of the hustle and bustle of everyday life, sometimes it is easy to forget that our true citizenship is in heaven.  The Bible describes us as "strangers and pilgrims" (1 Peter 2:11).  Although God wants us to enjoy our lives while here on earth, He wants us to also keep in mind that our true citizenship is in heaven.  A U.S. citizen traveling overseas for example is not a member of the foreign nation they are visiting.  The proof of their citizenship is evidenced by their passport.  Their passport confirms that they are a U.S. citizen.  Similarly, our faith and the Holy Spirit imparted to us at salvation is evidence of our heavenly citizenship.  As citizens of heaven, we have the comfort of knowing that we have an eternal home with God.  Also, as citizens of heaven, we can partake of all the abundance of it here and now.  The Bible explains that God has seated us with Christ in the heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6).  Since we are seated with Him, all the divine health, riches, joy, and wholeness of heaven are ours to partake of not only in eternity, but also here and now!  Psalm 112:3 says that wealth and riches are in our house.  Wealth and riches are most certainly in heaven.  The Bible records accounts of heaven in which the streets are paved of gold and the gates are adorned with precious jewels.  We can enjoy abundance in our earthly home because it is in our heavenly home and we are seated there with Christ.  Let us walk in a manner that reflects our true citizenship.

Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. Hebrews 11:3

So often we operate in faith to receive something from God.  We may operate in faith to receive a house, car, job, spouse, or even child.  Once we obtain what we desire, we withdraw our faith and kick back and relax.  Faith is a way of life for the believer though.  In order to tap into the constant flow of God’s blessing, we must constantly operate in faith.  This is how God Himself operates.  In Hebrews 11:3, we see that God used faith to create (or frame) the worlds.  God always operates in faith.  Jesus Himself operated in this faith as He walked the earth.  He used His faith to cure sickness, multiply bread, and share prophetic insight about the end times.  Jesus said that He would be killed and rise after three days (Mark 8:31).  What would have happened if Jesus did not have faith that He would rise from the dead after being crucified?  Where would we be?  Chances are He would have never risen from the dead.  Chances are also that we would never have had the opportunity to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, become saved, and would have to spend eternity separated from God.  Even in heaven, throughout eternity, we will always have to operate by faith.  Since God always operates in faith, we will always have to operate in faith also since we are created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26).  The good news is that we do not have to utilize our own faith.  The faith that we use is God’s very own faith or “the faith of the Son of God” (Galatians 2:20).  Also remember that faith comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17).  Choose to operate the Kingdom way by always exercising your faith!

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.  Romans 8:11

We must remember that when we stand in need of something, that the some power that raised Jesus from the dead resides in us as Born Again Believers.  That same power that was able to save us is also able to provide everything else we want and desire.  We know that with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).  In order to tap into the perpetual flow of God's blessings, we must stay fully engaged in prayer, fellowship with God, and the Word of God at all times.  We cannot believe God for healing, financial supply, or promotion in any area of our lives and withdraw our faith once we have received what we desired.  We must stay fully engaged in spiritual matters.  There are many examples of people that have been healed but eventually had the same sickness later attack their body.  What happened?  One possible answer is that they did not remain fully engaged in faith.  Faith allowed them to receive the healing, but once they felt they were healed they became lax in their spiritual walk and no longer exercised their faith.  Regardless of the blessings we receive, we must always stay fully engaged in the things of God.  

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.  2 Corinthians 4:18

We are not to fix our eyes on the negative situations and circumstances that we are surrounded by and confronted with.  Negative situations come and go.  Just as suddenly as a negative situation appears in our lives, it can go away.  Just as suddenly as someone is diagnosed with an illness, they can be healed.  Just as suddenly as a bank account has a zero balance, it can be replenished.  We are to keep our eyes on Jesus the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2) despite what is going on around us.  All negative situations are simply a distraction of the enemy to keep us focused on the wrong thing(s) and to take our eyes off of God.  The enemy knows that if we keep our eyes on God and continue to speak God's Word out of our mouths then our situation HAS to change for the better.  Continue to keep your eyes on God and don't fall prey to negative circumstances which are simply an illusion of the enemy.

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.  Proverbs 3:5-6

It is imperative as believers in Jesus Christ that we trust God even when we don’t necessarily understand everything that is occurring in our lives!  How often have you believed for that raise, promotion, new home, good health, or restoration of a relationship and it seemed like God had failed or was slow in fulfilling your desire?  I am sure that we all have had the opportunity to succumb to this temptation at some point or another.  Nonetheless, today’s verse of Scripture admonishes us to trust God with ALL our heart and not lean on our own understanding.  It is so easy to lean on your own understanding when something in your life is not going the way you had anticipated.  That is a trick of the enemy.  We are to lean on God’s promises expressed through His Word instead of our own understanding.  The promises in God’s Word are sure because Heaven and earth will pass away but His words will never pass away (Mark 13:31).  Trust God on today!

I have loved thee with an everlasting love.  Jeremiah 31:3

God loves us with an everlasting love.  His love is not conditional or fleeting but it is everlasting.  Often, we think that everlasting means that He will love us throughout all future eternity which is true.  Remember though, that from “everlasting to everlasting” God is God (Psalm 90:2).  That means that God loved us from past eternity as well.  Knowing this, why would we ever feel that we need affirmation from other people?  God eternally approves of you, accepts you, and loves you.  That is all the affirmation you will ever need!

The counsel of the LORD standeth forever.  Psalm 33:11

Whose counsel do you depend on?  Do you listen to the opinions of your peers, pop culture, family, or the Lord?  We are to actively seek God’s counsel in every situation of our life.  The danger of seeking counsel outside of God is that it is constantly changing.  Opinions change and fades in our society come and go but God and His Word remain the same.  Consequently, if you are not careful, you will try to constantly change who you are to conform to people’s and society’s ever changing opinions.  Additionally, some of the counsel you may receive outside of God and His Word is simply not true.  Lies about you may lead you to feel inadequate, inferior, and condemned.  The Bible says in Malachi 3:6 that “I am the LORD, I change not.”  What God says about you never changes.  He sees you in a positive manner and considers you a winner and conqueror over every adverse situation and circumstance (2 Corinthians 2:14).  That opinion will never change because as today’s verse of Scripture says, His counsel “standeth forever” and because Heaven and earth will pass away but His words will never pass away (Mark 13:31).  Stand on the counsel of the Lord.  You are sure to find the truth and feel secure!