The Posture of Expectancy

Yesterday during a discussion with a group of ladies concerning trusting God in our lives, I posed this question:  “Why is it that we so often pray for God to do something (many of us for years), believe on so many levels that He will do it, and yet find ourselves having a difficult time accepting that it is actually happening when things start to take place/change?” 

At some point, the thing we believe God will do comes into present tense.  Therefore, we can’t always keep our minds focused on the future.  We must be able to be expectant that God will move at any given moment, yet also be able to stand the test of time, and wait on His timing—with endurance and patience if need be.  This expectant hope that rests in God’s timing is our posture of expectancy. 

Why should we keep a posture of expectancy?

1.       It protects our hearts, and keeps them in line with God’s plan, His timing, and His way.

Proverbs 13:12 states, 

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” (NIV)

Gill’s Exposition gives this commentary on this verse (emphasis mine):

“Hope deferred maketh the heart sick...That is, the object hoped for; if it is not enjoyed so soon as expected, at least if it is delayed any length of time, the mind becomes uneasy, the heart sinks and fails, and the man is dispirited and ready to despond, and give up all hope of enjoying the desired blessing; whether it be deliverance from any evil, or the possession of any good…” 

I believe many of us, if we are truthful, can attest to this in some aspect of our lives at some point.  It may be for a season; it may be for a moment.  This occurs when we move from expectancy to expectation—meaning when we move from hoping to see something at any moment but being willing to wait in God’s time frame, to believing that God must do something (i.e. what we want & in the way we want) right now.  We move from hoping in the Lord to placing a demand on His timing, will, and plan.  We forfeit our hope in God for our hope in our own plans and dreams. 

We must be able to identify that we have moved from expectancy to expectation.  From there we must ask for forgiveness and place our trust and hope back in God’s mighty hands.  He is the One that gives us the strength for the journey.  He is faithful to show us how to rest in that posture of expectancy if we simply ask and follow His leading.

Gill’s Exposition goes on to discuss:

“but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life; when that which is hoped and wished for, and has been long expected and desired, comes; when there is an accomplishment of men's wishes, it is as grateful to him as the tree of life was in Eden's garden; it gives him an unspeakable pleasure and delight”. “…though not deferred longer than the appointed time, yet longer than the saints expected, and which sometimes made their hearts sick; they became weak and feeble, fearful and dispirited, lest it should never come to pass, which occasioned fresh promises and assurances to them;”

We wait with a posture of expectancy because when our longing is fulfilled, it will mean more to us than had we never had to wait and pray so fervently for it.  We must remember that we wait with a posture of expectancy because at God’s appointed time, things will come to pass.  What a moment!

As we wait for that moment of fulfillment, He will assure us along the way with fresh Words and what I love to call “God winks.”  Remember that Christ became man and walked on this earth.  He knows us.  He knows our hearts.  He knows that “sometimes” we will grow weary.  Those moments “occasion fresh promises and assurances” from our Lord to us.  Knowing that He loves us more than we could fathom, that He has experienced the same feelings, and that He wants you to experience the fulfillment of His promise even more than you do—doesn’t it align with His character that He would continue to spur you on throughout the journey? 

I can testify to you from my own personal experience that He is faithful to do this!  In my own particular journey, He has spurred me on more than I could account.  God has not allowed me to let go of certain promises and desires….sometimes, no matter how much I wanted or begged.  I know without a doubt, however, that the fulfillment of those promises will be greater than any hurt, any pain, any ache, any tears, and any frustrations I have experienced along the way. 

“Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.” (Psalm 126:5 NIV)

“The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.” (I Thessalonians 5:24)

2.       It allows us to be prepared for the realities of what happens when our promise is fulfilled.

When our promise is fulfilled, it will be an amazing moment of joy! But with that moment of joy also comes real life.  We don’t live in a book or movie where the wayward son comes home, the wife overcomes her addiction, the man finds the woman he loves, the daughter overcomes her body struggles and then everyone lives happily ever after.  As amazing as it will be to see God’s promises come to fruition (or at least for steps to be made toward that point), at that moment we then face new challenges, new possibilities.  If we are not prepared for what those look like, we are setting ourselves up for failure and heartache.  

We must ask ourselves, “Am I living and preparing myself right now as if God would answer my prayer today?”

Counterfeit

What the enemy most often tries to do in our lives is mimic God. However, God intends for events, situations, encounters to grow us, prepare us. What the enemy of our souls intends to do is use events, situations, and encounters that are a twisted version of the real thing to wound us and eventually destroy us and the plan that God has for our life. At the very minimum, his goal would be to derail us from the Greater Plan and Purpose meant for our lives.

Abraham faced a situation in which this was incredibly apparent. God had told Abraham that he would be the father to a great nation. (See Genesis 12) Abraham was a man of faith, and took God at His word. However, after time had passed it didn’t seem possible for the Lord’s promise to come true. Abraham and Sarai still had no children. At this point, God specifically told him that his heir would be his very own flesh and blood (See Genesis 15:4).

Wow! A direct and specific word from God! You would think that this would be enough to propel Abraham forward and keep him focused on God’s promise. That’s an easy assumption looking in from the outside. But have you ever had what you thought was a promise from God on your heart? Then have you ever waited as it looked like that promise would never come to pass? Time stretched on and on…wonder started to play on your mind…Did you hear God? Were you supposed to do something to help it along? It’s a difficult place. It’s difficult not only for the person with the promise, but for the people around that person that all have opinions on what they think God’s plan should be….

Take a moment and examine your own life. Do you, like Abraham, have a specific promise? Or does someone you know feel that they have a certain Word or promise? What has been your response during the wait?

Waiting Here for You

Tonight I have so many things swirling through my head. So far I haven't been able to successfully get it all down on paper in a form that makes sense. There are just so many things that God is doing, and ways that He is broadening my faith. I am watching Him move; but I still wait for one very specific thing. I know it's almost here....I can feel it. We are on the 1 yard line getting ready to make it into the end zone. Will I do a dance when we make it--you'd better believe it! :)

In the meantime, here is a song that is speaking volumes to me right now. Enjoy the lyrics and the music. Time to turn up the speakers and get some praise on!

If faith can move the mountains
Let the mountains move
We come with expectation
Waiting here for you, I’m waiting here for you

You’re the Lord of all creation
And still you know my heart
The Author of Salvation
You’ve loved us from the start

Waiting here for You
With our hands lifted high in praise
And it's You we adore
Singing Alleluia

You are everything You’ve promised
Your faithfulness is true
And we're desperate for Your presence
All we need is You

Waiting here for You
With our hands lifted high in praise
And it's You we adore
Singing Alleluia

Singing Alleluia
Alleluia, singing alleluia, alleluia

Waiting here for you
With our hands lifted high in praise
And it's You we adore
We're singing Alleluia

I'm singing Alleluia
Waiting here for you
With our hands lifted high in praise
And it's You we adore
Singing Alleluia
Singing Alleluia

Lyrics courtesy of Christy Nockels, Waiting Here for You

When the Expected Unexpected Comes

I remember once as a little kid falling off the monkey bars and landing on my back. All these years later I can still clearly remember the feeling of the wind being knocked out of my chest. I felt that same feeling yesterday morning, only I didn’t fall off the monkey bars this time. I received a piece of news that was unexpected. However…even though I didn’t expect this particular news, I knew that God had been preparing me to face this situation. (See Surrendering to the Blindfold Parts I & II.)

The question I have been faced with over & over the last couple of weeks has been “What do you do when things don’t turn out the way you expected?” I knew the particular situation of which the question inquired …and it made me uncomfortable.

It was difficult to consider all the possibilities of how things could turn out differently. You see, I felt that I had a very specific promise from God that had been affirmed and reaffirmed over the last 2 years. I didn’t quite know how to resolve that in my finite mind. But I made a decision…I didn’t have to understand it all (some of you can’t quite appreciate how far I have grown in this area), and I would trust God, trust His heart.

I didn’t have to wait long…one week after my first blog post on the subject I found out what the question meant. And it was certainly an unexpected turn that could have thrown me for a major loop had God not been preparing me for 2 weeks prior. Suddenly why it was accompanied by the verse in Habakkuk also became clear. The unexpected doesn’t always speak of the end—sometimes it can come in the form of a major left-turn that, if you weren’t prepared for it, could throw you completely off course.

In case I didn’t “get it,” yet again I open my email inbox this morning, & a scripture is staring me in the face…this time from the Living Proof Live prayer team blog:

“For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.” (Habakkuk 2:3, ESV)

At this point certain things are starting to make sense to me: I know the promise that God has laid on my heart. I know God’s character, and that His promise lines up with His Word. I know that this may or may not be the last unexpected turn on this portion of the journey. I know my God is faithful, and that He will never leave me, never abandon me, and will give me the strength to walk through this when I lean & rely on Him.

Things I don’t know right now: When is the “end?” When does the promise come? What is the ultimate “end” of all of this?

So what does that mean for me today? It means that today I surrender to the blindfold once again. I will ask and trust that my Lord will guide me through today’s situations. I choose to trust. I choose to obey—even when it’s hard, even when I don’t know the result. I will continue to seek Him and ask for wisdom, discernment, and boldness. In Jeremiah 33, God talks to Jeremiah about a promise of restoration after Israel has been destroyed, and all looks hopeless.

In Jeremiah 33:3 the Lord says, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”

I have experienced His faithfulness in this promise…and I will continue to ask and trust.

Surrendering to the Blindfold- Part II

*If you are just now joining us, this is the conclusion to yesterday's blog. Please see Surrendering to the Blindfold- Part I.

To further complicate my ability to find understanding…the verses from Habakkuk and 2 other stories that have held a special significance for me have bombarded me over the last week…The story of the stone being rolled away before Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, and the story of Abraham & Sarai conceiving Isaac even after it was impossible for them to have children. Could it all be about a situation looking like it is completely dead and without hope—not turning out how I expected…but not being the end of the story. Possibly. I still have no definitive answer. And quite honestly, short of revelation from God, I won’t. But I have made a choice. I trust the One who holds my future; my times are in His hands. (see Psalm 31:15-16)

Who would volunteer to lose their sight & depend upon another? Not many. To trust anyone “blindly” requires an explicit level of trust. You must have 100% complete trust in the other & know that everything they guide you through is absolutely for your good….for your wisdom, experience, strengthening, and growth. When submitting to this type of a blind faith-walk with God, you must be a 100% committed Romans 8:28 Christian:

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

This includes trusting and knowing that when harmful things come they are not from the One guiding you. Rather, the One guiding you knows they are coming and how to not only help you navigate through the situation, but to use anything that someone else intended to harm you to bring you to a greater, stronger, more powerful, more influential, more trusting place.

It is when we go through the tough times with someone that we grow closer to them. Bonds that are built under pressure and heat are not easily broken. Take for example when you glue something together versus when something is welded together. Whatever forces that substance will be later required to withstand determines the process of bonding…how it is held together & the process it must undergo to achieve that result. The same holds true of with us and our God.

The bottom line for me—I trust my Father. After truly examining my heart, I know that what I want more than anything else is for God to receive the highest honor and glory from the situation and to draw the largest crowd that will be able to attest to the mighty things He has done. If that means that I have an unexpected end result, then I know that He will give me the strength and grace to effectively deal with that. Does that mean that I won’t feel pain. Unfortunately—no. However, I know that whatever happens He will be faithful to cause it to work out for my ultimate good.

I can now also honestly answer at this point that my trust is not based upon circumstance. My faith will not be shaken based on circumstance. My trust is in my God. He promises,

Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you. [Isaiah 54:10]

Regardless of the answer and regardless of the surrounding situations, my God promises to hold true to His unfailing love for me, and to keep me in His peace. That is the peace that passes all understanding that I revel in right now. That peace is rooted in a trust that is dependent only upon the deep and intimate knowledge of the character of One I am trusting—not in outcomes, not in circumstances, not in answers; just His heart.

What is your deepest prayer right now? What do you do if the answer isn’t what you have expected? Ask the Father to help you grow in trust of His heart. He is faithful.

Surrendering to the Blindfold- Part I

Usually I blog about things where I have gotten some kind of clarity of thought…..today is different. I am blogging about a verse and a question that has left me with more questions than before. Almost 2 years ago, I was drawn to a particular passage in the Bible. When I read it I knew it was significant for me…although I didn’t quite understand how. The passage is Habakkuk 1:5, 2:2-3. To be quite honest, I’m not sure I even could tell you that Habakkuk was an actual book in the Bible before 2 years ago. Except that’s not entirely true….about 6 months ago I found a list of scriptures I had made note of in a journal from 5 years ago. One of the scriptures….Habakkuk 2:2-3. I have often made jokes that if you get a “Word” from Habakkuk, you know that it must be from God! Over the last 2 years, I have heard this passage preached at least a half a dozen to a dozen times. This weekend, Sheryl Lackey taught from this passage as she talked about seasons of trust. I also had the verse sent to me in an email this week. And if I had "missed the message," last night as I walked into my hostess' house….what verse do you think was staring at me painted on a huge canvas? Habakkuk 1:5 & 2:2-3.

Look at the nations and watch— and be utterly amazed.

For I am going to do something in your days that

you would not believe, even if you were told.

Write down the revelation
and make it plain on tablets
so that a herald may run with it.
For the revelation awaits an appointed time;
it speaks of the end
and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it;
it will certainly come and will not delay.

This week, that verse has always been accompanied by a question. It is not a question I liked. It’s an uncomfortable question. It is one that I don’t particularly want to think about, but I’m feeling that God has a different plan about confronting this issue. The question: What do you do when things don’t turn out the way you expected?

Since I am praying about so many things, I could play coy and pretend I don’t know what God is asking me about. But since He is omniscient and all…silly games are, well, silly. I know what He’s asking me about. The truth is, however—I don’t really know why. Could it be to get me to really examine my heart, to check my true motives at the deepest levels? Possibly. Could it be to prepare me ahead of time for my response when things just don’t turn out the way I expected? Again, it’s a definite possibility. I honestly don’t have that answer yet. I have asked the question. Truth be told, it was more of a statement to my Father, rather than a question. I was getting ready Sunday morning & I said to Him, “Okay God. I trust you to show me why you are asking me this.” And without missing a beat afterward, I just felt in my spirit, “Well, that really wouldn’t require much faith or trust, now would it?” And I had to admit—it was true.

...Part II to be posted tomorrow

Let the Word Speak....

While it isn't my norm, I felt that I should just leave you with the Word today. No real commentary.....this chapter in Isaiah feels particularly important to me today, although I don't have any real reason or explanation for that right now. I trust that God will direct your heart and my heart in what He wants us each to glean from this passage today. He promises in Isaiah 55:10-11:

“The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to,and it will prosper everywhere I send it."

Isaiah 54

¹ “Sing, O childless woman,
you who have never given birth!
Break into loud and joyful song, O Jerusalem,
you who have never been in labor.
For the desolate woman now has more children
than the woman who lives with her husband,”
says the Lord.
² “Enlarge your house; build an addition.
Spread out your home, and spare no expense!
³ For you will soon be bursting at the seams.
Your descendants will occupy other nations
and resettle the ruined cities.

⁴ “Fear not; you will no longer live in shame.
Don’t be afraid; there is no more disgrace for you.
You will no longer remember the shame of your youth
and the sorrows of widowhood.
⁵ For your Creator will be your husband;
the Lord of Heaven’s Armies is his name!
He is your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel,
the God of all the earth.
⁶ For the Lord has called you back from your grief—
as though you were a young wife abandoned by her husband,”
says your God.
⁷ “For a brief moment I abandoned you,
but with great compassion I will take you back.
⁸ In a burst of anger I turned my face away for a little while.
But with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,”
says the Lord, your Redeemer.

⁹ “Just as I swore in the time of Noah
that I would never again let a flood cover the earth,
so now I swear
that I will never again be angry and punish you.
¹⁰ For the mountains may move
and the hills disappear,
but even then my faithful love for you will remain.
My covenant of blessing will never be broken,”
says the Lord, who has mercy on you.

¹¹ “O storm-battered city,
troubled and desolate!
I will rebuild you with precious jewels
and make your foundations from lapis lazuli.
¹² I will make your towers of sparkling rubies,
your gates of shining gems,
and your walls of precious stones.
¹³ I will teach all your children,
and they will enjoy great peace.
¹⁴ You will be secure under a government that is just and fair.
Your enemies will stay far away.
You will live in peace,
and terror will not come near.
¹⁵ If any nation comes to fight you,
it is not because I sent them.
Whoever attacks you will go down in defeat.

¹⁶ “I have created the blacksmith
who fans the coals beneath the forge
and makes the weapons of destruction.
And I have created the armies that destroy.
¹⁷ But in that coming day
no weapon turned against you will succeed.
You will silence every voice
raised up to accuse you.
These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord;
their vindication will come from me.
I, the Lord, have spoken!

All texts today were from the New Living Translation.

Moving Forward

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” ~Isaiah 43:18-19

“I’m not going back, I’m moving ahead

I’m here to declare to You my past is over

In You, all things are made new

Surrendered my life to Christ

I’m moving, moving forward”

Lyrics from Moving Forward by Israel Houghton

So early this morning, this already seems to be the theme for the day. At this time in my life, things seem to be changing and moving forward at an almost break-neck pace. This is certainly not a bad thing….and considering the season I have recently exited in my life, it’s certainly a welcome change. However it is just that….change.

As humans, we tend to be creatures of habit. Sometimes that makes change—even good change, a little fearful. However, at this point in my journey I find that my fear is overshadowed…..this time around it feels like it is being pushed aside, and instead I find myself in hopeful expectation, anticipation, and quite honestly a sense of amazement. I’m seeing things come to pass that I felt God place on my heart in years past. I am reminded of the following scripture:

“Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.” ~I John 4:18 (NLT)

When we focus on God and what He says, we can be confident and fear is driven away. So many of these things I felt impressed upon my heart, but I had no idea how they would come to pass, because the circumstances I saw didn’t seem to make any sense or give any hint of ability to ever change. I just had to trust God and remain faithful in the steps He asked me to take. Our obedience + His supernatural ability = miraculous changes in events. He promises to complete the work He started in each of us.

“The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.” ~I Thessalonians 5:24 (emphasis mine)

My journey is far from over. There are still promises I have on my heart that have yet to be fulfilled. Continued obedience and following where He leads is key. I may not see now how those circumstances can change, but thankfully God is not dependent upon my ability to know what He knows. This is where faith enters the picture. I know that He is doing a new thing. I know He can make a way where there doesn’t seem to be one, and provision where none seems to exist. It says so in His Word. I can trust Him and follow Him so I can move forward. I trust He will guide me in respect to the details.

Is God bringing you to a new place? Ask for discernment to be able to “perceive it.” Seek His guidance and direction, and watch Him show you things that will truly amaze you.

Don't Give Up on Others

"One of the primary reasons Helen Kellar never gave up on herself was that Anne Sullivan never gave up on her." p. 59, Never Give Up by Joyce Meyer

How often do we "give up" on people? Perhaps they are difficult, they are going through trying circumstances, or we feel like we don't have "time" to deal with what is going on. Maybe they have made the same mistake more than once. We can come up with a laundry list of justifications. But how appropriate is that response?

Consider the story of Helen Kellar from the book The Miracle Worker. Helen Kellar had many characteristics that would made her situation "messy" or difficult to deal with. She was both deaf and blind, and as a result of the frustration she felt from these issues, she would become violently angry, lashing out at those closest to her. Multiple people had already given up on her, and deemed her situation as "hopeless."

Anne Sullivan could have very easily done the same and decided that this assignment was too hard, that God would never ask her to endure such a thing. She could have justified that Helen had too many difficulties, and that she would never be able to overcome all the struggles she faced in her life. Instead, what she chose to do was walk with Helen through her struggles, and ultimately to a changed life.

Did Anne "fix" everything wrong with Helen? Was she the full reason that Helen Kellar became the person she was later in life? No. While Anne helped Helen in the ways that she was led, it was God's work inside Helen that ultimately changed her. Anne was there, though, never giving up on Helen.

We cannot change anyone. We cannot fix someone else's problems, issues, or difficulties. It is only when we lay them on God's altar and allow Him full reign to do what He needs to do in their lives that real and lasting changes occur. God may call you to walk beside someone in their time of trial. He may call you to "be there" from a distance. You may be called to remain an unknown prayer warrior on that person's behalf. The response is still the same......if God has placed that person on your heart, never give up on them.

The Bible teaches us that God knows every moment of every day of our lives, before we even are born on this earth (see Psalm 139). That means God knows the past, present, and future of both you & the person he has laid on your heart. Do you trust God's wisdom in directing you who to pray for or be there for, or is your logic and human understanding superior to the Almighty's omniscience?

If he calls you to stand beside or pray for someone through their storm, he will give you the strength for that. 1 Thessalonians 5:24 states, "The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it." God will give you the strength to continue to pray, to stand beside, or to be there as a witness for that person. Don't feel, however, that you are the one that must make things happen. That is not our role. God is the source of healing, redemption, and change.

Who has God laid on your heart today & in what capacity? Be obedient to His call; He will be true to his promise.

God's Timing and Faithfulness

I have been going through a period of deep reflection and seeking concerning things in my life on a personal, business, and spiritual level lately. What happens when things don't go exactly according to your plan? What happens when you hit a wall? What happens when there are things that you thought you wanted, but realize that upon acheiving them, it doesn't fit into your true hearts desire known only between you, God, and a trusted friend? When do you listen to outside opinions, and when do you forego those opinions?



When we seek God, and answers from Him, He honors that. Sometimes He doesn't speak as quickly as we want Him to. Sometimes He doesn't speak in the way we want. Sometimes He speaks and it isn't what we want to hear. Sometimes He speaks, and it is confirmation to where we felt our heart and spirit leading us. I've found that confirmations often come in 3's. God amazes me at how He works. He takes the minute details of things, and has a way of amplifying them exactly when we need to see them. It is awe-inspiring and humbling at the same time.



God has laid this particular verse on my heart for 3 very specific situations in my life.... Isaiah 43:19 says "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."



Have you ever had a passage laid on your heart, but you could feel in your spirit that God was telling you "not yet, but this is where we are going" ??? I don't know if any of you experience that, but it is something that God has done with me time & time again over the years, and He is always faithful in doing those works. I can think of specific passages that were on my heart for years, and I never knew why. But "suddenly," years later, they came flooding back to me, along with that knowing in my spirit. It's like it all of the sudden, it becomes abundantly clear why that was on your heart for so long, and you are able to trace back the path and see God's hand at work in the situation.



That is the very same experience I've had with this passage. I finally hear Him saying "this is for you right now." This has come back to me this week in my devotional time, from seeing Joyce this week, and now from Os. Whenever I hear it, I can hear that deafening whisper in my ear letting me know that He is faithful and He will do it.



Our God is not a God of the status quo. He doesn't always work in logical and expected ways. Often, He completely debunks the ways we "believe" things should happen, in lieu of situations that will point directly to Him and allow Him to receive the glory. Our God is a God of the impossible! It is time to take some risks, to get out of the boat, and to move forward into the Promised Land He has prepared for us. The only person that can stop us from our God-ordained destiny is ourselves. He is doing a new thing for each of us today in some area of our lives....maybe even in multiple areas. Will you accept the new thing He is doing, or will you continue to hang on and look back at the past.



You cannot move forward while looking back.