As I was in prayer, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart about four expectations that God’s people should trust him to bring pass. These expectations are based on absolute promises the Lord has made to us. Our God is a promise-maker and a promise-keeper!
1. EXPECT TO BE REWARDED AS YOU DILIGENTLY SEEK THE LORD. “God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).
You can ask in faith for a token from the Lord to encourage and rekindle your confidence. God is always on time, and he knows you need a ray of hope and good news in your time of testing. Expect him to keep his promise to reward you now, when you are in greatest need. God cannot lie – he has said he rewards those who diligently seek him – so seek him daily. And truly believe this will be your season of great spiritual blessing.
I can think back and remember numerous times in my life when I was in the midst of a hard place or my heart was hurting, when God would send me that "token". I recall early on in our marriage my husband and I had had a quarrel one night. The next morning I left for work with a very heavy heart. My mother and I worked for the same government agency at the time, only she generally went in much earlier than me. On that particular morning, I had cried out to the Lord all the way to work. As I was walking to my desk, I met my mother in the hall. She had a beautiful bouquet of roses for me in her hand. She had no idea of the heaviness of my heart...but God did! It was if He had whispered to me "I heard you, My Child....all is well." Within just a short time, my husband phoned and asked me to meet him for lunch. All was well!
2. EXPECT TO SEE EVIDENCE OF A PROGRESSIVE MIRACLE IN YOUR LIFE. “With God all things are possible” (Mark 10:27).
I have written about instantaneous miracles and progressive miracles. Progressive miracles start in unseen, quiet ways and unfold little by little, one small mercy at a time. You are now in such a miracle. Expect to see God working in mysterious ways, unseen to the human eye. This should be the season you can say, “I don’t know how it will come to pass – I don’t see much happening right now – but I believe God set into motion an answer to my prayers the very first hour I asked.”
In our recent study of the book of Esther, we saw again and again how perfect is God's timing. As I wrote a few weeks ago, God is constantly weaving his Kingdom Tapestry in our lives. He is orchestrating the very minute details of our lives and all for a divine purpose. I heard of just one such instance this week. I will let our Connecting Points leader share in his own words:
"This guy....hit me upside the head and did not even realize it when he did it. I was leaving a company to move to Omaha, NE. He gave me a going away card, and in it, he wrote something and then just put the scripture "I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength" Phil 4:13. I will never forget that, after I re-read that card, I went and looked up that scripture and read about it and it made me curious. Soon thereafter, I took that scripture to my knees and asked Christ into my life at a TOUGH time in my life. Rick, thank you for sharing that scripture with me. That little seed you planted has done incredible things in my life!"
Who would have thought God could use a simple greeting card to change a man's destiny? But you see, his friend, Rick, incorporated the Word of God into his card and that is what made the difference!! God had brought these two men together in a work setting who knows how long before. Now He was moving one out of that setting, possibly to never see the other again. But God was working the whole time!!!!!!! He was orchestrating His divine plan in the life of each of these men.
How many times have you been tempted to write a note in a card, or share a verse of scripture and then held back for fear of what that person would say or think? The Word of God is powerful, it is life-changing. And, because Rick was not afraid to go out on a limb and simply share one verse with Barry, Barry's whole life was changed!!
3. EXPECT TO ENTER INTO GOD’S PROMISED PLACE OF REST. “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God…enter into that rest” (Hebrews 4:9, 11).
The recent year has been one of the most stressful for many believers. It was a year of incredible calamities, problems and trials. Now the Lord desires that you trust him to bring you into his promised rest. God never intended his children live in fear and despair. We need a reckless faith, a trust in him in the face of fear and trouble. Now is the time to lay it all on Jesus.
God wants us to rest in Him. He tells us "Come all ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest." Matt. 11: 28 The only place of rest is found in Him. Our burdens are too heavy for us to bear alone. He desires for us to find our comfort in Him and Him alone. We will not find rest in Oprah, nor Dr. Phil. We will not find rest in the latest best seller. We will not find rest in wealth or health or philosophies. We will only find rest IN HIM. But that rest belongs only to those who know Him, who have placed their faith and trust in Him. Do you long for rest? Do you know Him?
4. EXPECT THE HOLY SPIRIT TO BE ALWAYS “IN HIS TEMPLE.” “Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:19).
The Holy Spirit abides in the heart of every believer. He is omnipresent throughout the world and universe. I face each day acknowledging that he is here in his temple to comfort and guide me, encourage and anoint me, to reveal the glory of Jesus Christ in ever-increasing revelations. He desires that you expect him to make his presence manifest to you, and more so each passing day.
Believe these promises. Lay hold of these four expectations, and you will see marvelous things in this season of your life.
Having a "God consciousness" will change the way you live your life. When you are constantly aware of His presence with you and IN you, it changes the way you go about your daily life. He becomes more than just the topic of the Sunday School lesson. You realize that HE, the one and only God, abides with you moment by moment. He is truly "nearer than breathing, closer than hands and feet".
Last week my mother had a really rough week. A few months ago, she had major plumbing problems that cost her quite a bit of money. Then last week, her air conditioner went out. I don't have to tell you how much one of those costs!!:( On top of that she has had to have yard equipment repaired and other expenses out of the ordinary budget.) When they A/C man said she needed a new one, it was just about the last straw. She was really down and yet she breathed a prayer to the Lord and said "God....I really could use a hug right now."
Later than afternoon, my husband stopped by to see about something for her. She told him about her prayer as he was about to leave. He said "Well I can give you a hug!!" and he did. Then as he left, he leaned out the window and said, "Granny, don't worry...we'll be praying for you and we love you!" She was SO moved that she called me to tell me how much that had blessed her. Such a simple thing, but God knew exactly what she needed. My husband thought was going by to fix a small problem. He did not know that he was the insrument God would use to answer her prayer. He is THAT personal to us!
Whatever your needs today, GOD KNOWS. Take it to Him and see if He will not pour upon you a blessing, pressed down and running over!!!!!!!!!!
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