Expectations

Did God meet your expectations today?  What did you expect?

Some days my expectations are high – I need to hear from Him or I need His power to accomplish a goal. Other days, I just need to make it to bedtime, to survive.  My expectations are low.  Either way, He’s there.  Before I ever come to Him with my need, He’s waiting.

What is God waiting for?  He’s waiting to be good to us.

Isaiah 30:18 says “And therefore the Lord earnestly waits – expecting, looking, and longing – to be gracious to you…”

Have you ever had something good you wanted to give to someone, but they were so busy all the time that you could never get their attention or their time?  Frustrating.  God has so much to give us if He could only get us to be still and give Him time, our attention.

The rest of that verse in Isaiah says “Blessed – happy, fortunate, to be envied – are all those who earnestly wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him – for His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship!”

Have you ever loved someone who didn’t really want the love you had for them?  Heartbreaking.  God longs to lavish His love on us.  And if we would allow it, if we would spend time receiving this great love, it would provide the strength we need for every single day of our lives, no matter what comes our way.

Jesus taking up residence in our hearts is how we become rooted deep in, and founded securely on, love. He wanted His followers to have a practical experience of this love, not just knowledge about it.  Opening the door to this love in our lives allows God full access to us.  When He fills us with Himself, His power that is at work in us is able to “carry out His purpose and do super-abundantly, far over and above all that we dare ask or think – infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes and dreams!” (Ephesians 3:16-20)

Did you long for Him today?  Did you expect to experience His goodness today?  I must admit, my day started with the survival mindset.  Low expectations.  But His love sent me a phone call with just the right words of encouragement, just the right words of love that raised my expectations.  He’s good that way.