Day #82 - Heaven was Opened

The Presence - A Devotional for Living in Thanksgiving, Worship and Wonder

“When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭3‬:‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Photo by Davide Cantelli on Unsplash

Have you ever been in a prayer meeting where you felt that heaven opened?

Or have you ever been in a prayer meeting where you felt like your prayers were hitting the ceiling and bouncing back? How would you describe what made a difference between prayers that made a difference and prayers that didn’t seem to make an impact? I’m not trying to say we should judge prayers specifically on how we feel when we pray. However, if you have given your life to prayer, you know at times there seems to be times where you really touch the heart of heaven and experience the manifest presence of God and times that don’t seem that way.

When Jesus stepped into the river Jordan to be baptized by John the Baptist, Luke 3 says Jesus was praying and while he prayed heaven was opened. Prayer opens the heavens. When you don’t know how to get into the presence of God, then pray. It might be that not only when Jesus prayed did heaven open but when we pray, our prayers may always open the heavens.

I remember praying with my dear friend Todd Bevan once in his living room. We put on an old Vineyard worship album and as we began to pray together, heaven opened and the presence of God manifested so strongly that we couldn’t even stand up. We felt the weight of God’s presence and I began to pray on my knees while I experienced God in a way I rarely had. We experienced such a deep fellowship with God that day. I’ll never forget it.

Jesus shows us the way to experience the presence of God and live under an open heaven. Its really simple. Prayer opens heaven. If you want to see heaven open and experience God in that place, then learn to pray.

We learn to pray from Jesus. We also pray through Jesus. I always end my prayers “In Jesus name, amen.” Praying in Jesus name is about coming before God with our prayers in the spirit, power and name of Jesus Christ, the one who opens the heavens for us.

When heaven is opened, God meets us and does mighty works. There are supernatural encounters awaiting the one who prays. Jesus had a supernatural encounter with God the Father and the Holy Spirit on the day of his baptism. The stories belong to the ones who pray. Prayer creates a history with God and moves God to draw near and to open heaven for us.

Father God, thank you for Jesus and his example of prayer. But even more than that, thank you for giving me the Spirit and name of Christ, that I might pray to see heaven opened. I want to see you and experience your glorious presence. Teach me to pray. Teach me to pray that heaven might open and that you might manifest your face and your hand. In Jesus name, amen!