Longing for Heaven: Five Day Devotional

Here are a few additional resources to guide your quiet time this week:

• Watch the replay of "Longing for Heaven" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

• Use this small group discussion guide with family, friends and co-workers.

• Join us for our 6 AM Prayer Call, Monday through Friday (EST)

Day 1: Our True Citizenship is in Heaven

Based on the Message: "Longing for Heaven" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

"For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ" - Philippians 3:20

Devotional: When the Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians about citizenship, he used a concept they understood well. Philippi was a Roman colony, and its citizens enjoyed special privileges and protection. Yet Paul boldly declared that believers have something far greater – our citizenship is in heaven.

This truth should radically change how we view our current circumstances. We are not permanent residents of this broken world; we are temporary visitors with eternal passports. Like guests in a hotel, we should hold lightly to earthly possessions and earthly concerns, knowing our true home awaits us.

Too often, we become so invested in this world that we forget we're just passing through. We accumulate stuff, chase status, and worry about things that won't matter in eternity. But when we remember our heavenly citizenship, everything changes. Our priorities shift. Our peace increases. Our hope grows stronger.

As citizens of heaven, we eagerly await our Savior's return. This isn't passive waiting – it's active anticipation that affects how we live today. We serve with purpose, love with passion, and face trials with confidence because we know this isn't our final destination.

Quote: "Believers should not fear death. We should long for eternal life." - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: In what areas of your life are you acting more like a permanent resident than a temporary visitor?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me remember that my true citizenship is in heaven. When I get too attached to earthly things or overwhelmed by temporary troubles, remind me that I'm just passing through. Give me the perspective to live as a citizen of Your eternal kingdom, with my eyes fixed on Jesus and my heart longing for home. Let this truth bring peace to my anxious moments and purpose to my daily choices. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Day 2: Learning to Number Our Days Wisely

Based on the Message: "Longing for Heaven" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

"So, teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom" - Psalm 90:12

Devotional: Moses penned these words with the sobering reality that our time on earth is limited. The psalmist reminds us that even if we live to seventy or eighty years, our days pass quickly like grass that withers. This isn't meant to depress us but to awaken us to wisdom.

Numbering our days means living with intentionality. It means recognizing that every sunrise is a gift, every conversation matters, and every opportunity to serve God is precious. When we truly grasp the brevity of life, we stop wasting time on petty arguments, meaningless pursuits, and endless worry about things beyond our control.

Wisdom comes when we align our daily choices with eternal values. Instead of living for the applause of people, we live for the approval of God. Instead of storing up treasures that rust and decay, we invest in relationships and righteousness that last forever. Instead of fearing death, we prepare for eternity.

This perspective doesn't make us morbid; it makes us purposeful. Every day becomes an opportunity to love well, serve faithfully, and point others toward heaven. When we number our days correctly, we discover that life isn't measured by its length but by its depth and impact for God's kingdom.

Quote: "Wisdom teaches us to number our days and to live intentionally, bringing glory to God’s kingdom in all that we do." - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: If you knew you had only one year left on earth, what would you change about how you're living today?

Prayer: Lord, teach me to number my days and gain a heart of wisdom. Help me see each day as a precious gift from You, not to be wasted on trivial pursuits but invested in eternal purposes. Give me courage to make the hard choices that align with Your will, and grace to love others well while I have the chance. Let my life count for Your kingdom, both now and forever. Amen.

Day 3: Groaning for Our Heavenly Home Bodies

Based on the Message: "Longing for Heaven" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

"For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven" - 2 Corinthians 5:2

Devotional: Paul describes our current physical condition with startling honesty – we groan. Our earthly bodies are like tents, temporary and fragile. Every ache, every limitation, every sign of aging reminds us that we weren't created for decay. We were made for glory, and our spirits know it.

This groaning isn't complaining; it's longing. It's the deep recognition that something better awaits us. When arthritis makes it hard to get out of bed, when illness strikes a loved one, when we feel the weight of physical limitations, we're experiencing what Paul calls the groaning of creation itself, waiting for redemption.

But here's the beautiful truth: God has prepared something incredible for us. Our future bodies will be glorified, free from pain, disease, and death. They will be perfectly suited for eternal life in God's presence. No more wheelchairs, no more medicine, no more physical therapy – just perfect, glorified bodies that will never break down.

This hope doesn't minimize our current struggles, but it puts them in perspective. Every pain reminds us we're not home yet. Every physical limitation points us toward our ultimate healing. And every day brings us closer to the moment when mortality will be swallowed up by life.

Quote: "These bodies are breaking down: aches and pains; falls and injuries; sickness and disease. But this is not the end of our story. One day, we will trade these fragile bodies for glorified ones." - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: How does the promise of a glorified body change your perspective on current physical struggles or limitations?

Prayer: Father, I thank You that these temporary bodies are not my final form. When I feel the limitations of mortality, help me remember the promise of glorification. Give me patience with my current struggles and hope for the future You have prepared. Use even my physical challenges to draw me closer to You and remind me that my true home is in heaven. Until that day, help me serve You faithfully in this earthly tent. Amen.

Day 4: Walking by Faith, Not by Sight

Based on the Message: "Longing for Heaven" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr..

"For we walk by faith, not by sight" - 2 Corinthians 5:7

Devotional: Walking by sight seems so much easier. We can see our bank account, our circumstances, our problems, and our limitations. But God calls us to something higher – walking by faith. This means living with confidence in what we cannot yet see with our physical eyes.

Faith expands our vision beyond the temporary to the eternal. When we walk by sight, we get discouraged by setbacks, overwhelmed by challenges, and anxious about the future. But when we walk by faith, we see beyond today's troubles to tomorrow's triumphs. We see beyond earthly loss to heavenly gain. We see beyond temporal pain to eternal glory.

This kind of faith doesn't deny reality; it sees a bigger reality. It acknowledges present struggles while holding fast to future promises. It grieves current losses while celebrating eternal victories. It faces earthly challenges with heavenly confidence because it knows that what awaits us is far greater than what we're leaving behind.

Walking by faith transforms how we respond to every situation. Instead of panic, we have peace. Instead of despair, we have hope. Instead of fear, we have confidence. Why? Because we're not just looking at what is – we're walking toward what will be.

Quote: "Faith is not just confidence that things will happen in the earth. Faith is confidence that things are waiting for us in heaven!"- Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: In what specific area of your life do you need to stop walking by sight and start walking by faith?

Prayer: Lord, strengthen my faith to see beyond what my eyes can observe. When circumstances look impossible and challenges seem overwhelming, help me trust in Your promises and Your plan. Give me the courage to walk by faith, not by sight, knowing that You are preparing something beautiful for those who love You. Let my faith be an anchor in the storms and a light in the darkness. In Jesus' name, Amen..

Day 5: No More Tears in Our Father's House

Based on the Message: "Longing for Heaven" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

"And He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away." -Revelation 21:4

Devotional: John's vision of the new heaven and new earth paints the most beautiful picture in all of Scripture. God Himself will wipe away every tear. Think about that – the Creator of the universe, personally and tenderly removing every trace of sorrow from our eyes. No more death, no more mourning, no more crying, no more pain.

Every tear you've cried over loss will be gone. Every sleepless night of worry will be forgotten. Every heartbreak, every disappointment, every moment of grief will be swallowed up by overwhelming joy. God knows every tear that has fallen, and He promises to personally wipe them all away.

This promise should fill us with incredible hope during our darkest moments. When grief overwhelms, when pain persists, when circumstances crush our spirits, we can hold fast to this truth: our tears are temporary, but God's comfort is eternal. The things that break our hearts now will be completely healed in His presence.

Until that glorious day, we can find comfort knowing that God sees every tear and cares about every hurt. He's not distant or unconcerned. He's preparing a place where sorrow cannot exist, where joy will be our permanent state, and where His presence will be our perfect peace.

Quote: "Right now, many of us long for summer. We can't control the weather, however we look forward to sunshine and warmer days. In a similar way, we should long for heaven. We can't control God's timeline, but we should look forward to the beauty, warmth and safety of heaven." - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: What tears in your life are you most looking forward to God wiping away?

Prayer: Loving Father, thank You for seeing every tear I've shed and caring about every hurt I've experienced. Help me hold onto the hope of that glorious day when You will personally wipe away all my tears and remove all pain from my life. Until then, comfort me with Your presence and remind me that my current sorrows are temporary, but Your joy is eternal. Give me strength to endure and hope to persevere, knowing that the best is yet to come. In Jesus' name, amen.