"I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death." Philippians 1:20
Let me start off by asking you a few questions family. Have you ever had expectations that did not get fulfilled? You answer should be yes with a capital Y! Perhaps a friend or family member let you down. Perhaps you were trusting God for something in your life that never materialized. Perhaps you became devastated by an unmet expectation that you felt you were entitled to. Again the answers to these questions should be YES! I want you to know family that expectations can be a difficult trap for each of us if we are not fully committed to God's purposes in our lives. There are still times in my life family when I have to remember that it’s not about me.…It’s about God who appointed me to do His work. I guess this is why this verse smack me in the face…..Humm….
Let me also state that Paul wrote this verse from prison to the people of Philippi. He had an expectation that his life would bring glory to God, whether through his continued ministry or his death. His joy in living was not based on his expectations getting fulfilled, but on remaining true to the purpose for which God made him.
What I am about to say might sting a bit but it needs to be said! What I need for you to understand family is that when we react to circumstances with bitterness and resentment as a result of unmet expectations, we are saying that we know better than God, and that God has made a mistake in not meeting our expectations. The process of resolving unmet expectations may require full disclosure to the individual who was the source of the unmet expectation, and of how the unmet expectation made you feel.
This is not to make the person feel obligated to meet the expectation, but simply to share your feelings about it. If God was the source, then it is important to share this with the Lord. However family, once we have done this we must let go of the situation and allow God to work in our hearts the grace that is needed to walk in freedom from the pain of the unmet expectation. If we do not do this, we will allow the seed of bitterness and resentment to enter in. This seed of bitterness will create anger in our hearts and eventually will spread to others we come in contact with.
Today I challenge You family, to ask yourselves these questions: Ask yourself today, do I have any unmet expectations. How have I responded to them? And have I processed this with the Lord and others who may be involved? Now I know that I don’t have to say this, but I will. These are the steps family must take in order to find freedom from unmet expectations. Amen, amen and Amen. God Bless You All and Have A Great Godly Day in the Lord.
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