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LIVING IN EXPECTATION

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LIVING IN EXPECTATION

JUNE 18, 2018BY CASSIE DOWNS
Can I be transparent for a moment? I love Jesus with my whole heart; I crave time spent with Him. I believe He is a God of the impossible, and I can tell you story after story of the proof of it in my own life. I have experienced His greatness and His love day after day. You wouldn’t believe how He answered a long time prayer of mine just this week. So here I am, entirely in love with Jesus, doing my best to love like Him and be like Him and yet I still struggle to believe His words over my life some days. I wrestle to think He can do something impossible even though He did the impossible less than twenty-four hours ago. I battle to live with expectation.
Recently, I reached out to a couple of, what I consider, big-time publications about freelance opportunities. I have been very excited about reaching out, but the problem I found is my lack of expectation. As I visited with a friend from church, I was telling him about reaching out to freelance write for these publications. I excitedly told him but followed up by saying, “I don’t expect to hear back from them, but hey, I sent the emails.” He kindly encouraged me to live in expectation. That’s when I realized I never believed, not for a moment. And then came repentance, what does my disbelief say about the mighty God I serve? In one small sentence, I put a cap on God’s greatness, on His ability to do extraordinary things for an ordinary girl.
As God has stirred my heart about this, I thought about Moses and the Israelites. Moses had faith enough to return to Egypt for his people, but what if His faith stopped there? What if he doubted God could use him to rescue the people? What if he failed to expect God would do just as He promised, would God still have used Moses to deliver the people? (Exodus 7)
This thought challenges me. How often have I forfeited wondrous things because I don’t expect God to do what He says He will? When Peter stepped out of the boat and onto the water, I doubt he expected to sink. He took God at His absolute word and walked on water (Matthew 14:22-29).
I think too often the problem hinges on our ability. I don’t believe I will get the opportunity because I am too dependant upon my own strengths, instead of on what God can do and what He wants to do in and through me. The free-lance opportunities have very little do do with me or my ability and everything to do with God and His glory. Sure it will bless me for God to use them; however, it’s ultimately about God’s glory.
I don’t know what area of your life needs some expectancy today, but I know the God of miracles, and He wants to do incredible things in and through you. God needs you and me to believe He’s going to do as He says He will. He wants to bless us, but we must believe He is able. Because HE IS ABLE!
But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. James 1:6
 
We do hinder God working in our lives with our doubts and also our patience. God uses our talents just at the right moment so that we let the light of Christ shine through us to a world that needs God's mercy and grace. If I bring just one to the Lord the rejoicing in heaven is magnified even here on earth. I've had a few articles published and it is a good feeling as you never know who will read them and who you might have helped. Expect that which you do for the Lord will bring glory and honor to His name as we store our treasures up in heaven and not here on earth.

Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
 
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