Expect GodSample

If we’re expecting God to show up, we shouldn’t be surprised when He does, right? What are you expecting?

God tells us in scripture that if we want Him to answer our prayers, we must expect an answer.

David's verses throughout the Bible are filled with expectation. He writes, "In the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation." (Psalm 5:3 NIV) And in Psalm 27:14 (AMP), David urges us: "Wait and hope for and expect the Lord." 

Many psalms begin with the psalmist crying out to God in desperation and despair. But often, by the end of the psalm, the author is praising and thanking the Lord in advance for all that He will do for him. 

So what happened in those interim verses? The psalmist chose to expect God to act on his behalf. By an act of his will, he made a decision to take his stand in bold expectation. 

A good example of this is in Psalm 42:9-10 (TLB) 

“O God my Rock, I cry, why have you forsaken me? Why must I suffer these attacks from my enemies? Their taunts, pierce me like a a fatal would; again and again they scoff, Where is that God of yours?”

But the next, and final, verse says: "But O my soul, don't be discouraged. Don't be upset. Expect God to act! For I know that I shall again have plenty of reason to praise Him for all that He will do. He is my help! He is my God!”

If you pray with expectation, God will honor that. Having an attitude of expectancy will produce a peace and joy in our hearts that we would not have otherwise. An antidote for fear and despair is expecting God to act on our behalf.

What do you expect from God? What do you expect Him to do in your life? If God has healed you of sickness before, don’t you think that He will do it again? 

God is good and He is faithful, so I expect His goodness and faithfulness. His word says He won’t leave or forsake us, so I expect Him to be there for me. 

What have you been dreaming about? What have you been praying for? Believing for? Don’t give up now. Keep dreaming! Keep praying! Keep believing! Expect God and let hope in!

If you enjoyed this reading plan, I encourage you to go deeper by checking out my new book Expect God: What To Do When Your Problem is Hiding Your Promise.