Life After HeavenSample

Attuned to Others

Over the years, I have learned to become more aware of what God is doing around me and to be conscious of his presence. I have slowly grown in discernment and the ability to hear his voice. I am constantly on the alert.

Most often, my early signal for a flash of heaven is compassion. When I’m close to someone and feel unusual compassion for him or her, I know there’s a strong possibility a bubble of heaven is forming.

We can choose to practice our sensitivity and move into deeper levels of feeling for others. We look on so many things now with a sort of resigned indifference. I think that’s from the Enemy. The antithesis of that—the polar opposite—says, “Not on my watch.” We must engage when someone else is suffering. We must feel and do something about it.

Jesus is moved with compassion when he sees anyone in need. He wept during his earthly life when he saw people hurting; he feels something now too. So should we. Love is the language of heaven. Love that cares and moves to redeem and reclaim pain and loss. Love that pulls others closer and then walks together with them. Christ is God wrapping his arm around the broken. And on this earth, today, he does that through his people. But are we as eager to reach out as he is?

We need to ask God to make us continually available when opportunities to share and experience his love may be close to us. In fact, we all know the feeling—that gentle, uncomfortable prompting inside. It’s like a pinching of our souls. Most of us try to ignore it. But we have no idea what we’re missing if we do.

We just might be missing a taste of heaven itself.

We need to ask God to make us sensitive to circumstances and environments, to people and their needs. We need to ask him to help us be present—that foundational quality of heaven that is so difficult to attain in a world of distraction. We need to ask God to help us feel what others feel, to tune in to the emotional states of others just as he does.

Today, ask God for perception and vision. Pray, “Father, make me aware.” And be ready to carry his compassion to the people whose needs he reveals to you.