Time for a TurnaroundShembull

ATTITUDES & EXPECTATIONS

It’s easy to let one negative experience shape our perceptions of our present and future experiences. For example, you may have had a critical statement made by someone in authority during childhood, and not be aware today of where you may have accepted that as truth. 

Negative words and experiences are like an app running in the background of your life, tainting perceptions and expectations of your life now. For example, my teacher in the third grade took a story I had written, put it on the blackboard, and criticized it in front of everyone. As a result, I developed a fear of writing, believing it wasn’t good enough (I wasn’t good enough) and that it was something to be ashamed of. In fact, that criticism permeated all of my relationships. I criticized first myself, then others, then God. 

I expected to fail and I expected the rejection, which became my self-fulfilling prophecy. I didn’t realize that, as in Proverbs 14:6, my attitudes of fear and negativity blinded me to the hope and promises of God. I expected others to reject me, and whether real or imagined, my perception became my reality. But there’s a difference between facts and truth. When we learn the truth about who God says we are, we learn to expect good things and are empowered to reap them in return.

In order to reap good things, we have to replace fear-based attitudes and expectations with love-based attitudes and expectations. I learned to turn on my love receptors and receive good things from my Father. He created me in His image, so if He’s not rejected, I’m not rejected. If He loves me then I choose to love myself too!  

God wants to give us eyes to see and ears to hear, but we can’t receive it if we’re listening and seeing through fear. Our attitudes cause our behaviors, so when we have Godly or love-based attitudes about physical health, we are then able to make a positive change in our physical health. When we declare expectations of prosperity and success, through His grace we are able to make changes more radical than we could have imagined. 

Reflection:

What do you want to be true about the area of your life that needs change? Try declaring expectations that you WILL achieve that change. Declare that you have the mind of Christ, and that through God you are capable of anything.

Try personalizing scriptures: 

“I expect that where I sow seed in the land, I will receive in the same year a hundred times as much as I had planted.” Genesis 26:12 AMPC (modified)

“I am merciful as I endeavor to understand myself and others. I am compassionate, showing kindness to all. I am gentle and humble, unoffendable in my patience with myself and others.” Colossians 3:12 TPT (modified)

“This is only the beginning of what I can do, and now nothing I can have imagined I can do will be impossible for me.” Genesis 11:6 AMPC (modified)

“I love the Lord God with all my heart, all my passion, all my energy, and my every thought. And I love my neighbor as myself.” Luke 10:27 TPT (modified)