Hearing His Voice #320

This is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth.

Ephesians 1:10

To understand God’s voice, we need to know something about His agenda. His voice informs us of what He’s going to do, of course, but sometimes we’re listening for an intensely personal word when He gives us a big-picture word, or vice versa. Our expectations may color what we perceive and how we apply it. When we’re listening for God’s voice, we need to envision both the macro and the micro views.

What is God’s big-picture agenda? He plans to bring everything in both heaven and earth together under the authority of Christ. He seeks to bridge the gap between His throne room and His creation—the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven in Revelation is a dramatic picture of that—and establish His uniform reign in both realms. He wants heaven to come down into our lives, through our prayers, through His work in us, through our actions and words, and into our surroundings. Miracles that are commonplace in heaven are to become commonplace here on earth. Answers to prayer that are clear in heaven are to become clear here. The gap between the realms is to gradually disappear through the ministry of the Holy Spirit within His people. And His voice will very often be directed toward this end.

Listen for the heavenly agenda. Expect directions on how to prepare your world for life under the authority of Christ. Never limit your prayers to what is “feasible” on earth, but include requests that will display the glories of heaven in the here and now. At the right time, Christ will culminate this process, but it doesn’t simply begin when He appears. It begins now—in and among His people who are filled with His Spirit. We are citizens of two realms, and we are not called to keep them separate.

Jesus, I long for everything to be under Your authority—everything in heaven and earth and in every corner of my life. Give me clear instructions, revelations, and directions for praying for Your Kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven.