Looking Forward to Heaven

The eleventh chapter of Hebrews lists some heroes and heroines of faith.
One thing these men and women had in common was that they “waited for the city whose builder and maker is God.” Their focus wasn’t on their immediate circumstances, but on the heavenly reward. That’s how they were able to endure the tests and tribulations they went through. This has practical applications for us. It’s easy to become so weighed down with the concerns of daily living that we lose sight of what’s waiting for us at the end of the road. On the other hand, thinking more about heaven helps us to bear some of the things we have to go through now, so we’re wise to heed the scriptural advice, “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”
Find a quiet place for this exercise, outside in nature if possible. You may want to start by reading about heaven from the last two chapters of the Bible, Revelation 21 and 22, which give an idea of what is waiting for us. Then think about some of the aspects of heaven, like these:

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Revelation 21:4 (ESV) He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Isaiah 35:10 (ESV) And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

John 11:25-26 (ESV) Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.[a] Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”