Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied

-Matthew 5:6

In every person’s life there are moments that stand out as milestones. For me it was in January of 1997. It was a breezy day in Pensacola, Florida at the Brownsville Assembly of God. I remember driving onto the property around 2:00pm and there were hundreds of people standing in the parking lot waiting for the doors to open. They were singing, worshiping and declaring the greatness of the Lord. These were everyday people in love with Jesus; people who were hungry and desperate for a move of God in their lives. They came to Brownsville expecting God to reveal His glory to them like Moses experienced on Mount Sinai.

On that day, I personally went to Brownsville to see what it was all about. I went there as a spectator, and skeptic. However, the atmosphere of expectation began to quicken my spirit and break me. I wanted to experience what was going on. Expectation is an interesting thing. Something spectacular happens when you expect.

In Exodus 33 Moses had an encounter with God that not only changed himself but the entire group that he lead out of Egypt. God told Moses to take his people up from where they were but He was not going to go with them because they were a stiff-necked people. Moses was so shaken by this that he made this statement to God in Exodus 33:15, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.” Moses was so changed by God’s glory that his face was radiant when he came down from Mount Sinai.

 

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Today’s Thought

How long has it been since your entire countenance has been changed by God’s glory? God wants to reveal himself to you.

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Today’s Prayer

Lord I ask you to reveal yourself in me. I am hungry for more of your presence than I have ever experienced.

He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

-Luke 2:5

When I was pregnant with our first child they were just beginning to be able to tell you the baby’s gender with a sonogram. We never wanted to know if the baby was a boy or girl, we wanted to be surprised. The first few months were exciting, once you got past the nausea, because you told all your family and friends, “we’re going to have a baby!”  The closer the end of the third trimester got the more excited we became! Just like Mary and Joseph we were expecting a baby to be the result of those months of nausea, swollen feet and feeling like a baby elephant.

When Josh was born we just assumed he would be another girl. The Doctor announced, “It’s a boy”! I was so excited that my voice went about two octaves higher than normal as I screamed, “it’s a boy, it’s a boy, I can’t believe it’s a boy!” What a blessing to receive the result you have been expecting!

 

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Today’s Thought

Never stop expecting your result. The result you receive may be greater that your expectation.

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Today’s Prayer

Father today I put my complete trust in you. The requests I have made in the past are not forgotten. My faith is strong and I am believing and expecting results.

Look among the nations and watch. Be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days which you would not believe, though it were told you.

-Habakkuk 1:5

Have you ever been amazed at something God has done in your life? I have. I’m amazed daily at his love for me that took me out of a lifestyle of failure and gave me hope. I am amazed that He chose me of all people to preach his story. I am amazed that He has directed my steps from place to place and always blessed me to be with wonderful people who love God as well.

When we review our spiritual journeys, and our lives in general, since our conversion to Christ, I think most of us are astonished! And yet our scripture today tells us we will be astounded even if He told us what was going to happen.

God continues to promise us amazing days ahead. And He will “work a work in your days…”

 

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Today’s Thought

Keep looking ahead with expectancy for such great blessings from God that you will be completely overwhelmed!

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Today’s Prayer

O God, our God, overwhelm us with your love and power! Show us your glory in our lives today that we may always rejoice in you our God and Savior.

Rejoice in the Lord Always. And again I will say, REJOICE!

-Phillipians 4:4

If you’ve been a regular church attender for any significant amount of time, you have undoubtedly heard the pastor make a point which he felt was really good; really powerful; and apparently no one else caught. So in his slight frustration he’ll say, “Let me say that again” in hopes that you’ll catch the powerful message behind what he just said.

This is how I imagine Paul talking to the Phillipians in Phillipians 4:4. Undoubtedly they were a worried people (vs. 6) – maybe worried about their finances, their relationships, their walk with God, or any number of things which we all worry about. But Paul tells them, with great passion, to REJOICE in the Lord; pray with thanksgiving; only think about pure and positive things; and, if they do this, the “God of peace that surpasses understanding” will be with them and will guard their hearts and minds. Too many times we let worry and doubt overtake us and we forget that the God of the universe is looking out for us and wants us to be joyful in Him. When we decide to be thankful and change our perspective, despite our circumstances, we stop doubting and worrying and start rejoicing because we know God will come through for us and give us exactly what we need.

 

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Today’s Thought

So may you rejoice…let me say that again, REJOICE in knowing that the God of unexplainable peace is on your side and He will always come through for you.

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Today’s Prayer

Lord, thank you for always being with us and for giving us that unexplainable peace in the middle of our storms. Help us to never worry, but ALWAYS rejoice

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

-John 14:27

There are those in our world who want our New Year to begin with frightening predictions; impractical resolutions; and, prognosticators’ doleful forecasts.   On the contrary, I have good news to bring! The Lord has never been known to go back on His Word or back down on His promises. “Only believe.”   Go into this New Year with great expectation that…

1. The Bible will still have all the answers.

2. Jesus will still save the lost.

3. Prayer will still work.

4. The Holy Ghost will still move.

5. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.

6. There will still be God-anointed preaching.

7. There will still be singing of praise.

8. God will still pour out blessings upon His people and perform miracles!

9. There will still be room at the Cross.

10. Jesus will still love you.

 

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Today’s Thought

Think miracles! God has everything under control.

• Sorrow looks back…

• Worry looks around…

• but, FAITH looks up…..

• therefore, Be Strong In The Lord!!

 

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Today’s Prayer

Father, I am so thankful to know that You are in control! Help me to keep my eyes fixed on You at all times, and in all circumstances, so that I have no fear, dread, or anxiety within my life this year or ever! I trust in You! In Jesus’ precious name, I pray.

When you came down long ago, you did awesome deeds beyond our highest expectations. And oh, how the mountains quaked.

-Isaiah 64:3

When praying for a need, waiting for the answer is part of the answer. We can’t think, that because we have to wait for an answer, that God didn’t hear us or that the answer is no. Although, there may be times that the answer is NO. Waiting can be a way of getting your answer, by either God changing your mind about a situation or God changing the situation.

Just think: What if we never had to wait for an answer from God? We would become spoiled, unappreciative, and may even feel we deserve it. It’s like when your children ask for something. If you always tell them yes, then they eventually get to where they don’t have to ask, because they know you’ll say “yes” and “yes” is not always in the their best interest.

 

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Today’s Thought

We have to be expecting during the waiting time and know that ”My God will hear me.” and did hear me.

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Today’s Prayer

Heavenly Father, I pray that in the waiting time for our answers not only will we be expecting but that we will know that you are working it out, that you have heard us and that you haven’t forgotten us. If our heart needs to change, we will recognize it and be willing to do your will.

Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. 

-Mark 11:24

Skepticism is one of the worst afflictions which our churches face in this day and age. It is the enemy of belief and the thief of faith. Most of us would say we believe in an all-powerful God but in the back of our minds there’s that tiny ounce of doubt that tells us to not expect our mountains to be moved. Somewhere along our maturing process skepticism stole our child-like faith.

I was listening to the radio in my car one day and when I reached my house I shut the car off before the song was finished. As I walked inside the Lord spoke to my heart and said, ”Just because you turned off the car and stopped listening doesn’t mean that the song stopped playing.” Just because we stop listening to the Lord and start doubting His ways doesn’t mean that He’s not still moving, we’ve just shut Him off.

The Lord knew that somewhere along the way we would begin to question our circumstances and that’s why he spoke of becoming like a little child. Children haven’t been tainted by skepticism or doubt. God’s word tells us to “only believe” and all things will be possible. We must return to that child-like faith. Doubt must be turned into a heart of true expectancy.

 

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Today’s Thought

God is always moving and working among his people. Has our skepticism kept Him from fulfilling the work He wants to do in our lives?

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Today’s Prayer

Lord I pray that my heart would never become a heart full of doubt. I pray that my life will always be open to your working hand.

Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for and hope for and expect the Lord!

-Psalm 31:24

Watching, waiting, expecting. It seemed to flood my life over the last few years. God had called me into full-time ministry, yet, in my own self, I found holes that I had spent, what seemed to be a lifetime, trying to fill. Still, I continued to do my own searching; my own seeking; and, my own doing. Then, I finally let go. My watching finally turned to watching, my waiting really turned to waiting, and my life truly turned to full expectancy. I had literally done everything I could on my own to find the “right” spouse for me. It wasn’t until I completely, 100% gave up doing things on my own that God was able to do things on His own. In less than a year God had led the right girl to me and allowed me to marry her the same year.

Scripture tells us to expect the Lord. Our faith in Him requires that we expect to receive all that He has promised us. We must expect health; we must expect deliverance; we must expect victory; and we must expect every word of God to be accomplished. Expectation is our anticipation and our desire to receive God’s promises for our life.

 

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Today’s Thought

Has God’s promises been given to you but, as of this moment, nothing has happened? Don’t give up and don’t turn back. God is faithful and you must continue to wait; to hope; and, to expect His promises to be fulfilled. Stop trying to do God’s work; let go, trust; wait in expectation; and, truly see His blessings and promises pour into your life.

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Today’s Prayer

Lord, I want to thank you for your perfect plan. I thank you for knowing me and knowing what I need even before I ask. Today God, teach me to stop doing things on my own at my own speed but to wait expecting from you.

You have compassed this mountain long enough; go northward.”

-Deuteronomy 2:3 KJV

You’ve been going around in circles in these hills long enough; go north.”

- Deuteronomy 2:3 MSG

Christmas celebrations have just passed and a new year has begun with anticipation of what it will bring. Will there be mostly days with laughter, productivity and fulfillment or will there be many days covered with sadness and loss?

 

Familiar lyrics of “Happy Christmas” written by John Lennon, provoked a heart check and a glance back over the past year asking: “So this is Christmas and what have we done? Another year over and a new one just begun. So Happy Christmas.”

 

What have I done? Did I help make a difference or did I just look like a log that floats downstream. Or was I just going in circles and spending days repeating the same things 365 times?

 

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Today’s Thought

Insanity is often defined as doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome. Take positive actions and expect positive change.

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Today’s Prayer

Lord, daily remind me to stay focused on the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus and help me keep moving toward the goal.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you

- Matthew 7:7

I began playing trumpet when I was in the sixth grade. I can remember the day I walked into the band room for the first time and the band director asked me what I wanted to learn to play. My dad played trumpet when he was in school, so part of me wanted to be like my dad and play trumpet. So I did. Little did I know the effort that it would take in order for me to learn to play that instrument. I can remember the first time I went outside to practice on the front porch. I started playing and the dogs started howling. I learned some very valuable lessons in those days. If I ever expected to be good I had to prepare to be good. Those days shaped my life in so many ways. If I am expecting something great from The Lord I must first prepare. You may ask the question how do I prepare to expect?

Ask: Prayer is one of greatest communication tools we have with The Lord. He desires to hear his children’s voice. He wants us to come to him with our burdens and prayers.

Seek The Lord: Studying the word of God and letting it transform our lives. His word draws us closer to Him. His word is a lamp unto our feet and a light to our path.

Pursue The Lord: Following after The Lord with all of our hearts. Passionately pursuing His presence with our worship and adoration to Him is like knocking on the door of His presence!

 

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Today’s Thought

Always understand that we will find Him when we seek Him.

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Today’s Prayer

Lord today I thank you for your mighty hand that guides us unto righteousness. Thank you oh God for revealing yourself when we seek you. I ask for your greatness to rest upon each of us.