Expectations

E X pectations

Day 1

E X pectations

To consider probable or certain; hope; assurance

1 Peter 1:3

All honor to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for it is by his boundless mercy that God has given us the privilege of being born again. Now we live with a wonderful expectation because Jesus Christ rose again from the dead.

Our hope is not only for the future; eternal life begins when we trust Christ and join God's family. No matter what pain or trial we face in this life, we know that it is not our final experience. Eventually we will live with Christ forever.

Day 2

Expecting

Good or bad, expectations may limit our relationship with God. I have only been a Christian for about 6 years now. In that time I have learned that my expectations are not always God's greatest concern. I have learned to become a bit more humble when presenting my requests to God. Not to expect that what I desire will be given to me, but to expect that God will hear my prayers and will answer them according to his own understanding and expectations for my life.

This is a hard concept for me. I tend to listen to many views and then desperately try to filter them through God's word so that I will rely only on his promises and not on what I have come to expect from him. In my walk with God, I have come across those who believe that if you ask, then you can expect to receive what you have asked for. Experience shows me otherwise. I am thankful that there have been times that I have not gotten what I expected, because the alternative was far better than my tiny little mind could have imagined. Many times, though, I have allowed my self to only expect a little and God has provided more. So what do we do to balance out our expectation when it comes to God?

In 2 Corinthians 8-11, Paul writes "I think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and completely overwhelmed, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we learned not to rely on ourselves, but on God who can raise the dead. And he did deliver us from mortal danger. And we are confident that he will continue to deliver us. He will rescue us because you are helping by praying for us. As a result, many will give thanks to God because so many people's prayers for our safety have been answered.

I think this passage tells us we need to pray for each other and ask for other to pray for us. We need to be in constant prayer for what we need and want, but always remember that God is ultimately in control. That is where faith shows its face. Even if our expectations aren't met or are met far greater than we could imagine, our faith in prayer is the vehicle in which God can act out his Love for us. Remember, that the blessing your receive is for God's glory and for others to come to know and praise him for the prayers he answers.

Day 3

Expect your faith to be enough

We often depend on our own skills and abilities when life seems easy and only turn to God when we feel unable to help ourselves. But as we realize our own powerlessness with out him and our need for his constant hope in our lives, we come to depend on him more and more. God is our source of power and we receive his help by keeping in touch with him. With this attitude of dependence, problems will drive us to God rather than away from him. Learn how to rely on God daily, start your day with prayer and thanksgiving.

A few years ago I decided to run for the Biggest Turkey Contest. Despite it's name, the contest was well worth it. The Biggest Turkey Contest was comprised of several members of the community who had about 3 months to earn/raise the most money for Hospice care in our community. My husband and I had volunteered on the committee since he ran in the contest several years earlier. I had no doubt that I would be able to raise funds as I had many very experienced people on my team helping me. It was the second part of the contest that I feared the most, the talent show. This talent show consisted of a lip sync about 3-4 minutes long in front of the entire community and it would be played on public access channel for an entire year. I had decided I wanted to honor my mentor and friend, Lea, who was also the head Hospice Manager in the area. I had it all figured out until the week of the talent show. I realized I was not going to be able to get up on stage and do this thing by myself. So I hit my knees and I prayed and I cried and I prayed some more. I asked God to bless whoever put the time and energy into their talent show and that I would do my best but that He had to be there for me. I only expected that I was going to be able to get up on stage and somehow my lips would move to a song I had not rehearsed. In a matter of 30 minutes, I received a call from my daughters ballet instructor asking if she could put together the lip sync for me. PRAISE GOD. I did win the Biggest Turkey Contest overall, raising the most money, I did not get first place for the talent show, but I was able to go through with the talent show and honor my friend. Every time my life gets a little out of hand I remember how my faith brought me to God's feet and even though He did more than I expected, he did not go over board and he did not do only what I expected.

Have you relied on your own skills and abilities when life is easy?

Have you turned to God when you feel unable to help yourself?

Do you depend on God at all times?

Do you have a story about how God has met or exceeded your expectations? Not met them?

What are your beliefs about God? Do you think he will give you EVERYTHING you ask for, or will he use these opportunities to teach us?

Dear Lord, I know that many times I don't expect your power and love to be big enough to help me through my situations. I know that there are times I expect you to take care of things because you have done it so many times in the past. Help me Lord, to come to you with everything and to be willing to receive whatever it is that you have for me. Help me not to have high or low expectations, but faith that you listen to my prayers and want the best for me.

Day 4

Proverbs 10:28 The hopes of the Godly result in happiness, but the expectations of the wicked are all in vain.

Ask God to give you hope and faith enough to come to him in times of pleasure and need. Give yourself the opportunity to lay down your requests to God daily and not have any expectations, but faith that God will hear you and do what is best for you.

Be willing to let go of the past expectations you may have had and look for the gift that God gave you in place of your expectations. Let go of any resentment you may have for not getting what you wanted and remember to give praise for those times you have received more than you expected.

Day 5

Gracious Heavenly Father, I thank you.

I thank you first for the love you showed me in giving your son to save me.
I thank you for the mercy that did not leave me in my sin.

Thank you for the sunshine and the rain.

Father, I want to be content wherever I am.

I ask you to show me the blessing in my circumstances. Please open my eyes to see your grace and its sufficiency.

Remind me how you have delivered me and protected me.

Show me placed in my life where your hand held me when I would have fallen.

Put praises on my lips.

Let my life praise you.

Clothe me with your glory, that others might see you and praise you too.

In Jesus' name, Amen.