Expectation requires preparation and preparation is never a wasted time.  Look at this flower!   When you plant a flower, you always have an expectation for it to bloom!  When you sow a seed, you always expect a harvest!

Expectation brings new vision!  It changes our mouth’s declaration!  When we start to do something, it’s all because we want to SEE the end result of it.

Our journey with an expectant heart opens our path of progression regardless of what it looks like.  A seed sown into the ground will not immediately sprout but it’s pod will go through the breaking as the soil pushes and squeezes it.  In life, when the going gets tough, keep holding on to the promise God has given you for He Who promised is faithful.

A mother carrying a baby in her womb is expectant to see her child born.  Such expectation changes what she sees and motivates her to prepare for the birthing of her child.  She would read books about babies, talk to experienced parents, and do what she thinks is best and necessary. The declarations of her mouth changes.  Expectant mothers would talk about what the baby’s name will be, what the theme of the room and the colors of the clothes will be.

Nearer the time of birthing, she’ll take action into going to breathing classes, buying the stuff she’ll be needing and positioning herself to receive the promise of a given birth.  This is a picture of someone who is expectant.  It’s so funny  to think that in the years past, every time I google a photo of the word “expectant”, what usually comes out is a picture of a pregnant woman.  I used to wonder why but now I came to realize that it is indeed one of the best photos to describe such word.

It is the same thing when God gives us a promise.  Our vision changes.  Our words change.  The way we walk and live our lives change in conformity to what we are believing for.  Let our expectations be from God and not from men lest we get disappointed.  When God says it, don’t sweat it!  He never changes his mind and He is willing and able to do it for us because He deeply loves us.  Believe it!  Speak it!  Move with it!

“My covenant I WILL NOT BREAK,
Nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips.”  Psalm 89:34 NKJV

When birth pangs come, DON’T QUIT just because it discomforts or pains us.  God will always bring to pass what He has promised.

A flower is always expected to bloom!  Why would you plant a seed or seedling, water it, cultivate it, and not expect something out of it?  You do it because you want to SEE it!

“Shall I bring to the time of birth, and not cause delivery?”, says the LORD.  “Shall I Who cause delivery shut up the womb?”, say your God?   Isaiah 66:9 NKJV

When we need healing, press in to His promise that by His stripes WE WERE HEALED!

When we need provision, hold on to His promise that He will provide according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus!

When we’re in mourning, know that JOY comes in the morning!

When we’re in a hopeless situation, look up and know that help is on the way!

“Because He loves me.” says the Lord, ” I will rescue him;  I will protect him, for he acknowledges My Name.  He will call on me, and I will answer him;  I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.  With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation.”  Psalm 91:14-16 NKJV

Whatever our need is, He has a corresponding promise for it.  He Himself will come!  His presence will give us rest.  He is our Prince of PEACE!  He fills us with hope!  He bubbles up JOY  within us and strengthens us as we journey with Him.  At the end of it all, we will realize that it’s not about the birthing of the promise that matters most to us BUT WALKING IN INTIMACY WITH THE PROMISER, JESUS, the author and the finisher of our faith, filling and flooding us with His love and allowing us to encounter His loving embrace that brings us everything we need.

Our answered prayers won’t make us whole but our oneness with the One Who brings answers to our prayers makes us complete.  Only IN HIM we are made whole and complete.

Photo Credits:  Malu Montemayor Schaefer (Flower’s Name:  Christrose.  They bloom in time for Christ’s coming in Winter)