Daily Devotional

The last time I saw my sister, Gloria, she was sleeping heavily on a hospital bed in the house of her son, Shawn. We waited on her for a time. We touched her shoulder and greeted her verbally, saying our names out loud. She made no response. Lynn and I, and Shawn’s wife Carrie, held hands and prayed for her. After spending more time with family, we went home.

In the middle of the night that night, I awakened as usual. I used the restroom and returned to bed. I turned my focus to my memory verse for the night. After reviewing that some, I started praying silently in bed, with Lynn quietly sleeping beside me. After a bit, my attention shifted to my sister. We all had been sure that day that she would not recover. I began to pray for her.

Gloria was a committed follower of Jesus Christ, faithful through all her adult life. She remained so through eight years of radiation and chemotherapy, hospital visits, surgeries and procedures, and an uncountable number of doctor’s visits, all fighting the Multiple Myeloma which had “invaded” her body. This faithful one would soon breathe her last. How should I pray for her? What should I ask?

As I mused and waited on God, a picture gradually formed. As I was laying quietly by Lynn as she slept, so I prayed the Lord Himself would lay at Gloria’s side, and wrap His arms around her. I pictured Him speaking into her ear, even in His loving embrace. I could see Him comfort her and tell her all would be well. In my little vision I saw my sister wrapped up in the Lord’s arms, consumed with all He was telling her, speaking words of love and comfort.

With that vivid picture before me, I prayed that in that very state, the Lord still holding her and whispering to her, that she and He would gently and slowly float up to heaven. All the while she would lay sleeping in Jesus’ arms, smiling, resting, peaceful and blessed. Moving into the heavenly realm, I perceived the Lord gently awaken her, telling her that they had arrived. Gloria, still laying there and consumed with God’s love, looked to Him with a curious smile. Then she looked casually around, and her eternal translation to heaven slowly filled her understanding. She had not known it even happened, but once there felt that she had always been there.

Such was my prayer and my “vision.” Three days later it took place. I believe, by faith, that it happened just like that! It was the most impacting experience I have ever had, since a glorious revelation was given to five of us together after our son Michael’s death, and we saw directly into the heart of God, into His infinite compassion and mercy. Here we saw the glorious scene of God’s eternal love and care, His comfort and kindness gently carry my sister to heaven. He cared to be there, and to accomplish it. It is beyond my ability to fully know Him in this way, even “seeing” it happen.

In today’s text, the psalmist asks God to send out His light and truth, that they might lead him. He asks that they would bring him to God’s holy hill (Zion), even to the Lord’s dwelling places. There he goes to the altar of God, to God his exceeding joy. Once there, he can only worship and praise him on a heavenly lyre. There he really lives!
Perhaps your prayer could be the same as the psalmist’s, and your experience rival his.

Read: Psalm 43, Ephesians 1:1-2:10.
Pray: Ephesians 3:14-19
Sing: The Love of God, by F.M. Lehman

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