LIVING IN DAILY EXPECTATION
THERE IS a huge challenge to all Christians to be living in the NOW of the will of God. Far too often we are either caught up in the things of the past, or we are living in a speculative future. But what about NOW? Christianity - and the power of it - is in the NOW. Faith is a "now" word (Hebrews 11:1). We are strongly exhorted in Scripture to be filled with the Holy Spirit, the same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead. He has come to live inside all Holy Spirit filled believers in Jesus Christ. When He comes into us He brings with Him nine beautiful spiritual gifts, which are our "tools of the Christian trade." They are all for the now.
The question is, "How much do we live with a daily expectation that God has equipped us with every good thing we need to function positively in the NOW - TODAY? If we do not live with that expectation then it is likely we will never fully know the joys of working together with the present "in the now" indwelling Holy Spirit. I am learning more and more the reality that God uses all who are useable. If I am available to Him today, He uses me today. I do not have to put off until tomorrow what He wants to do in and through me today.
Let me encourage you to stir your expectation that you were/are saved to glorify God daily. That includes allowing God to reveal Himself to others through you in simple but supernatural ways. Stir your expectations, for "Your expectation shall not be cut off" (Proverbs 24:14). Stir your gifts (2 Timothy 1:6-7). To live in expectation means to have "intense anticipation, the thing I long for, to look for." Vines Dictionary says it suggests "a reaching out in readiness to receive something, expecting, look for." As we put these meanings into practice by expecting God to prompt us, speak to us, direct us daily, we will find doors of opportunity opening to us everywhere we go. Let us never forget that right now there is a very needy generation waiting for answers to their dilemmas. You and I, Christian, are called by God to be the answers to those problems through our expectancy and availability to God in the NOW - right NOW! Listen to His voice - that is the key - then carry the commitment to do whatever He tells you (John 2:5). There will always be blessings to others on the other side of our obedience to God. He saved you to use you on a daily basis. Don't allow anything or anyone to rob you of that privilege to be a "worker together with God"(2 Corinthians 6:1) because you have developed a daily expectation to be used by Him.
- Rodney W. Francis.
Bible Readings: Ephesians 3:16-21; Acts 3:1-8; Psalm 82:1; Hebrews 11, and Hebrews 12:1-2.
Please Pray This Prayer:
"Dear Mighty, Living God, Who lives inside all true born-again believers by the same Holy Spirit Who raised Jesus from the dead, I come to You in that mighty name of Jesus, accepting that You have called me to use me day by day for Your own praise and glory. Help me, Lord Jesus, to understand Your purpose in my life in the here and now. Help me not to live in the past, and help me not to put off until tomorrow what You want to do through me today. Help me to be 'a today Christian' so others can see and know that You are the answers in my life, and You are there for them too. I release You now to be more and more of what You want to be in and through my life. By faith I am looking to You to use me today to be a wonderful blessing to others. In Jesus' name I pray these things, Amen."
The Gospel Faith Messenger Ministry, New Zealand. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
