When something is mentioned twice in the Bible it is important, even more so the more times it is mentioned. The Bible has over 500 references to heaven! God wants us to know that He has our future in His hands. Our future is wonderful, great, and will be beyond our imagination!

Consider this glimpse into life in heaven. In heaven there is no more suffering or death or mourning or crying or pain (Revelation 21:4). In heaven there is absolute safety and eternal security within the high, thick walls (Revelation 21:12,17). Heaven is a home that is stable and unshakable with firm foundations (Revelation 21:14). In heaven there is no more night or darkness (Revelation 21:25). Heaven is where God’s people gather to worship Him forever and ever (Revelation 7:9). In heaven we will serve God and see His face (Revelation 22:4). We will have a relationship with God that is pure and perfect without any sin (Revelation 21:5). Certainly this is the greatest future!

In our time on earth we can keep our focus on God, His love, and the sure promise of heaven. We need to avoid being impacted by worldly influences. In the movie, Collateral Beauty, Will Smith plays a character that is a successful advertising executive. He describes that to get people to buy something you need to remember three things: love, time, and death. Everyone is looking for love each day, they want more time, and are afraid of death. That is what you tap into in order to sell things to people.

Christians know that there is nothing that you can buy that will have a permanent impact on love, time, and a fear of death. The best way to take care of all three is to keep our hearts and minds fixed on God. God loves us with a self-sacrificing, unending love. God loves us so much that He gives us the free gift of eternal life in heaven with Him. In heaven, we will have unlimited time as we will live for eternity with God. Because of this, we have no need to fear death. When our time on earth is complete, we will be welcomed into heaven with open arms. You might say this is the most successful advertising campaign ever. It is a message that has connected with billions of people. The message has power because it is from God. His Word is trustworthy and true.
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Since heaven will be beyond our imagination there are many things about heaven that we do not know. We can trust that God is all-knowing and wants only the best for us. Seventeenth century pastor Richard Baxter adeptly describes what our mindset to heaven can be.
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​Reference
Stohlmann,  M. (2020). The world's greatest future. Seattle, WA: KDP. 

What does my future hold? This is a common question that many people wonder about. You may have thought about the following questions at some point in your life. Where will I live? What job will I have? Who will I marry? Will I be healthy? Will my friends stay the same? Some questions are more immediate in regards to the current day. Will my presentation go well? Will I do well in my interview? Will I get good results from my test? No matter if it is thinking about what will happen in the next couple of hours or what will happen years from now, we like to know that our future looks promising. 

People often try to plan for what the future will bring and also try to make the right decisions so they can have the best future. Making plans can help us feel better because we do not really know what the future holds. Having an uncertain future can create stress and anxiety.

Christians know that there is only one person that knows the future for certain and that is God. Christians can have confidence that God will guide, direct, and protect us in our time on earth. We may not be sure of our own plan for life and what it will bring, but we can draw strength from God’s promise that He has a plan for us. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11. This can provide us great encouragement to show God's love to others and do our best to give glory to God in all we do. 

God has a plan for you today, tomorrow, and in to your future. He always has something for you; a key for every problem, a light for every shadow, a relief for every sorrow, and a plan for every tomorrow. We may not know what our earthly future will hold, but every Christian has the joy and certain hope of life everlasting in heaven!

God provides us with the world’s greatest future. There is nothing that can compare on earth with what we will experience in heaven. God has promised that He is preparing a place for you and me. In heaven there will be no more sin, suffering, or sadness. Our bodies will be transformed with no weaknesses or diseases. This promised future of our permanent home in heaven brings great joy and anticipation! But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. Philippians 3:20-21.

Reference
Stohlmann, M. (2020). The world's greatest future. Seattle, WA: KDP. 

Always remember that God is greater than we can imagine. Nothing is beyond his ability; whether it is a problem to solve, relationships to heal, or sins to forgive. God has the power to create and sustain the universe. He can provide healing and restoration for us. ​

Reference: 
Groeschel, C. (2018). Hope in the dark. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Even though God is our light for the way, that does not mean our decisions in life will always be clear. There are often times when we want something in life—a new job, a family, a spouse, a house, new friends, less stress, relief, recovery, or removal from illness or disease. When it seems like God is not listening, be completely assured that He knows our needs and desires and is working for what is best for us in our lives. Through any situation in life, we can continue to rely on God, stay in His Word, and do our best to follow His will for our lives in our decisions.

There are multiple verses in the Bible that state the importance of waiting for the Lord. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him. Psalm 37:7a. While we are waiting for the second coming of Jesus, the verses can also remind us to have peace about our current situations. No matter what our circumstances, we have God and that is enough. That does not mean that we should not have tenacity to pursue dreams that we feel God is leading us to pursue. Waiting does not have to be inactivity, but a sustained focus on God through prayer and belief. It is being optimistic about the future, not focused on worry, but on the glorious inheritance that awaits us in heaven and the wonderful life that we can have on earth doing the Lord’s work.

Reference
Stohlmann, M. (2017). The world's greatest provider. Seattle, WA: CreateSpace. 

When we face problems in life, we can realize that on our own we are not able to do what we would like. We need to rely more on God and Him working through others. Isaiah 40:29 is a beautiful verse to remember during these seasons of life. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. The Bible is full of stories where God provides strength and helps Christians through difficult times. The Israelites were saved from the Egyptians by God parting the Red Sea. Daniel was kept safe in the lion’s den. Samson is given strength to defeat his enemies. Paul persevered through many trials and imprisonments. In times in our lives when we face problems we do not have to be distraught but can be taught to seek God. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. 1 Chronicles 16:11. God can use these times to reassure us of His presence and power.

​When we realize that we have God on our side it makes all the difference. We can draw great encouragement from this in the midst of any problems in life. Pastor and author, Max Lucado, in one his sermons stated the power that Christians have by belonging to God.
I read that Christ took up residence in you when you became a Christian. He is a pulsating, living, breathing, growing, expanding presence. I read that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. I read that you are an ambassador of Jesus Christ. I read that you are an heir of Christ. I read that you are the salt, the light of society. I read that you belong to the living God. I read that your name is written in the book of life and no one can erase it. I read that you have been purchased with the most precious commodity in the history of the world. I read that you belong to God.

​The Bible provides us with plenty of evidence of the power of God. God is more powerful than any problems that you are facing. God is with you and has promised to help you. Do not be dismayed or discouraged when trouble comes your way, but face it with confidence that God will provide the strength that you need and the determination to deal with anything in life. Let us remember what we have. We have the power of the Almighty God residing in us! We have the promises of God before us! We see evidence of God’s faithfulness all around us!

Stohlmann, M. (2017).  The world's greatest provider.  Seattle, WA: CreateSpace. 
Lucado, M. (2016). “It’s a battle, not a picnic.” Retrieved from http://media.oakhillschurch.com/default.aspx?page=3679&item=528

​There can be plenty of reasons why we need strength for the day: too much to do at work or school, an illness or disease, strained relationships with others, a friend or family member going through a difficult time, financial troubles, loneliness, uncertainty about the future, failure, loss of a loved one, and being responsible for others or in a position of leadership. There are many people that have to deal with these problems in their lives. Christians know that God will give them strength for all the days of life. Here is the story of one famous Christian that persevered through all of the above difficulties.

When I was seven years old, my family was forced out of our home because of a legal technicality. I had to work to help support my family. At age nine, while still a backwards, shy little boy, my mother died. At age 22, I lost my job as a store clerk. I wanted to go to law school, but my education wasn’t good enough. At 23, I went into debt to become a partner in a small store. Three years later my partner died leaving me a huge debt, which took years to repay. At 28, after developing romantic relations with a young lady for four years, I asked her to marry me. She said no. At 37, on my third try, I was finally elected to the United States Congress. Two years later, I ran again and failed to be re-elected. I had a nervous breakdown at that time. At 41, adding additional heartache to an already unhappy marriage, my four-year-old son died. The next year I ran for Land Officer and lost. At 45, I ran for the Senate and lost. A few years later, I ran for the Vice Presidency and lost. At 49, I ran for the Senate again and lost. And at 51, I was elected President of the United States.
Who am I?
My name is Abraham Lincoln.

​President Abraham Lincoln knew that he needed to rely on God for strength for every day of his life. One of his most famous quotes states well how Christians know that God’s strength is sufficient from them. “I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom, and that of all about me, seemed insufficient for the day.” Lincoln felt that the Bible was one of the greatest gifts that God has given us. Through the Bible, Christians are encouraged and given strength.

A search on www.biblegateway.com for the word “strength” brings up 232 Bible verses. Strength is something that God knows that we need and provides this for us. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:10. There can be days when everything that is going on is overwhelming, but God promises to help us through our days. A couple of excellent Bible verses to remember are from Lamentations and Matthew.

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
Reference
Stohlmann, M. (2017). The world's greatest provider. Seattle, WA: CreateSpace. 

Pastor and author, Ravi Zacharias, states that Annie Johnson Flint was one of the best hymn writers in history. He describes further how her life was anything from easy. “She got rheumatoid arthritis till she was twisted up in bed for many, many decades. She had cancer inside of her, she was incontinent and lived on diapers, and blindness started to overtake her.” Through all of her pain and suffering her faith only increased. One of the hymns that she wrote was “He Giveth More Grace.” The lyrics powerfully state how God is the world’s greatest provider and is more than capable of taking care of us through all the times of life

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,
Our God ever yearns His resources to share;
Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;
The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
​He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

For non-Christians it may be hard to imagine anyone going through so much suffering in their life and uttering the last line of verse number 4: He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again. There is a story of a weak, old coal miner whose body had been ravaged by his many years of hard labor in the mines. In his humble home there was a table with a small bowl of thin porridge on it. Holding a piece of bread in his coal-stained hand, he was ready to eat his meager meal. But first he knelt beside the table, joyfully exclaiming over and over again: “All this, and Jesus too! All this, and Jesus too!” 

That is an amazing part of a life lived with Christ. The benefits of having Jesus as your Lord and Savior are too many to describe. All Christians have had difficulties in life and can tell their own story of how God has provided strength or peace. In my first book, Bible Verses in My Pocket , I describe problems and suffering that I have had with Crohn’s disease. I had surgery to remove part of my intestine, my appendix, and tumors. I ended up losing about 60 pounds, but even in my weak state I felt God’s strength and power all the more. It is great to remember that if God brought you to it, He will bring you through it. This of course does not mean that Christians will not experience trials throughout life, but that God will help and sustain us. 

Of all the things that God provides us in our lives, His undying love and grace are the most important. God’s love is unfailing, unending, unequaled, and indescribable. God loved us so much that He sent His one and only Son to earth to die on a cross to pay for our sins. Jesus gloriously rose from the dead and defeated the devil and death giving us the free gift of eternal life. We can trust in God’s love because it is pure and self-sacrificing. God has everything, but still loves us so much that He wants us to be with Him in heaven forever. Corrie ten Boom stated it this way. “The perfect motive is that God so loved the world. The perfect gift is that he gave his only Son. The only requirement is to believe in him. The reward of faith is that you shall have everlasting life.”

 Knowing that the all-powerful God loves us is a wonderful feeling! As a result of this, we have what we need for our life on earth until our work here is done. We can share God’s love with others because we have been richly blessed! We can praise His name our whole life!

God is the world’s greatest provider because He takes care of all of our needs. In our time on earth we may still experience hardships including health, financial, and family problems. However, God has freely given Christians the only thing that they need; eternal life in heaven. Because of this we have joy, peace, and hope in our time on earth. Having Jesus as our Lord and Savior means that we are blessed beyond belief.
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Psalm 84:11 states, For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. Based on this verse it might be easy to think that if a Christian is experiencing troubles then something must be wrong because the verse states, no good thing does he (God) withhold. Christians are certainly sinners and so our lives are not blameless. The beautiful thing is that because Jesus paid the price for our sins on the cross, Christians are viewed by God as forgiven, holy, and blameless people. The Gospel message is a proclamation of prosperity that Christians will experience. Prosperity is not defined by earthly standards though. It is not wealth and health. It is the joy and peace of living life with the Holy Spirit as our constant companion and the blessed true knowledge of a place in heaven awaiting us.