Expection: June 4, 2010

Today's Word for Friday June 4, 2010

EXPECTATION

DEFINITION

An act of expecting; something expected or awaited; anticipation.

SCRIPTURE

"My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him." Psalms 62:5

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

We can remember so many times when we have experienced expectation in our lives. Our first such experience together was the year prior to our wedding. We were busy planning and working and were 2000 miles apart but the expectation of our soon to be wedding grew day by day. Then the expectation of the birth of all six of our children was exciting. We experienced both quick births and long ordeals. In fact Dottie was in the hospital for 10 days after our first child was born and we both experienced the possible expectation of even death. But God answered our prayers as well as the prayers of many others and the expectation that we anticipated before our son's birth became a very positive reality.

An excellent example of EXPECTATION in our lives is the expectation we see in our children and grandchildren at Christmas. Christmas has always been looked forward to with great expectation and excitement by our family. It is not only the exchanging of gifts, the eating of a wonderful meal but also the annual Christmas play our family puts on starring our grandchildren. It is a wonderful time of being with our family and also a time for us to remember the birthday of our Lord Jesus Christ.

How sad it is that in so many homes Jesus has been left completely out of Christmas let alone the rest of the year. How blest we are as Christians to have even a greater expectation than the excitement of Christmas. We have the wonderful expectation of spending eternity with the Christ of Christmas.

There are exciting expectations and sad expectations in life. When you have people around you that you love like spouses, parents, children, grandparents and extended families then almost every day brings on new expectations - some happy and some sad.

As the Psalmist says in the above verse the toughest part of expectation is the waiting. Waiting on the Lord for His answers is very difficult at times. For Ken patience is not one of his great attributes. Together over the years we have asked God for direction and guidance and then we expected an immediate answer. But sometimes God made us wait and this was very difficult. Perhaps He needed to teach us patience or to better prepare our hearts for something. We have had to learn how important it is in God's sight for us to wait for His perfect timing. For us waiting has always allowed God to do something better through our lives. The challenges have been greater and the victories have been wonderful.

It is the believer's privilege to say that my expectation is from Him (God). When we look to God for the supply of our wants, whether it is temporal or spiritual, our expectation will not be in vain. We can look at our bank in heaven and receive our needs out of the riches of God's loving kindness. Our bank account with God can never be overdrawn.

Our Lord never fails to answer His promises and when we bring them to His throne through prayer, He never sends them back unanswered. Our problem is that we forget to recognize that when God answers He sometimes says "yes," sometimes "no," and sometimes, "wait." Therefore we need to learn to wait at His door and He will open the door according to His will.

Our greatest expectation in life is the expectation that one who believes in Jesus has in spending an eternity with our Lord. When that day comes, do you expect as you approach the heavenly gate to see the door open and hear the welcome invitation to come in to the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world? Do you expect harps of gold and crowns of glory? Yes, one day we will see Him as He is. What is your expectation? We are waiting, excited and have great expectations of what God has for us in eternity.

LEARNING

Our memory verse for this week is found in James 4:17.

Therefore to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

PRAYER

Thank You for the greatest expectation that You have given us as believers in You, the wonderful and marvelous expectation of spending eternity with You. Help me to honor Your name by doing what You want me to do. Help me to learn more about You by reading Your Word and listening to what You say through Your Word. Help me also to communicate with You through prayer with expectation knowing that You will answer my prayers in Your perfect timing.