I pray for you, our friends, often with a beautiful passage from Paul's letter to the Philippians:
I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God. (1:9-11 NLT)
I'm constantly amazed at this upside-down heavenly kingdom we're a part of. The things I often prioritise are not as important in the heavenly realm, and then—surprise, surprise!—the things God emphasises for his eternal citizens seem upside-down to me!
Here are some upside-down Biblical themes I've been thinking through (maybe you can relate to these?!):
Who you are becoming > what you are doing
What you do > what you intend to do
Inside > outside
Serving > being served
Love > talent
Faithfulness and fruitfulness > people’s accolades
Loving enemies > loving those who love you
Being kind to the unkind > being kind to those who are kind to you
Giving > receiving
Worshipping and serving God when things are challenging > worshipping and serving God when things are going great
Sacrifice > comfort and convenience
Contribution > consuming
Wounds of a friend > kisses of an enemy
Praying for someone/something > talking about someone/something
Jesus > spouse, brother, sister, children, career, friends, self