Читать книгу Joy Comes in the Morning - Richard Amoaye - Страница 7

DAY 1: Expectations

“For surely there is an end; and thine expectations shall not be cut off.” Proverbs 23:18 (KJV)

Eᴠᴇʀʏᴏɴᴇ ʜᴀs ᴇxᴘᴇᴄᴛᴀᴛɪᴏɴs of self, others and even God. It is only normal to have some form of expectation. Proverbs 23:18 indicates that as believers we are to be hopeful and expect that our hopes will come to fruition. To live life without expectations would be difficult and counterproductive. This is because to an extent, healthy expectations motivate and drive us to not only work hard but to move our lives forward. Considering how all things require balance, it is important to ensure our expectations are moderated as they can be extremely positive or extremely negative if they are not kept in check. It is important to manage expectations in a healthy and productive way, where the focus is on fulfilling God’s purpose and understanding His timing and plans.

Our expectations are one of the key areas in our lives that can rob us of our true joy. Often this is because there is a disparity between our Expectations and the Realities we face. If we are honest and we take time to ask ourselves some telling questions, we will realise that on most occasions, our unhappiness stems from ideals we think should hold true concerning our lives, instead of what the reality of our lives actually is. This is because we tend to carefully construct a step by step road map of what we want life to look like at any given stage. For example, you may have hopes that at a certain age you would have finished your education, obtained employment and while working your way up the corporate ladder would have met a suitable mate with whom you would have had your two point five kids; all within a projected timeframe.

The expectations we carry are often a result of a culture within an environment where success stories and the life of bliss are overrepresented and pale in comparison to our own reality. Rarely do we see headlines on the struggles, the journey and process of how the rich and famous got to where they are. As a result, when we compare our lives to theirs, we may feel that our achievements do not match up. We are not wrong to carry hopes, dreams and desires. In fact, they may have been given to us by God in the form of inspirational pictures of what our life should be. What we need to realise, and practise is placing our trust in Him to bring our hopes to fulfillment. We should trust in His appointed time and not be caught up with society’s expectations or our own projected ideals. We must learn to appreciate the process of God’s timing. We must master unrealistic expectations and ensure we do not find ourselves in a place where the vision and dreams that God gave to liberate us kill our creativity.

Take Home

Your fulfillment in life should not come from people or circumstances but from fulfilling your God given mandate. Begin to find fulfillment wherever you are now, knowing that it is God that has placed you there for a reason and for a season. Prayer Father through the power of the Holy Spirit I break any unrealistic expectation that I have placed on myself. I choose to trust in your plan and purpose knowing that I am part of something that is bigger than myself and my personal ambitions. I choose to be happy and from today I choose to avail myself as a vessel unto honour in your kingdom. It is my joy and pleasure to be counted amongst your servants. Amen.

Prayer

Father through the power of the Holy Spirit I break any unrealistic expectation that I have placed on myself. I choose to trust in your plan and purpose knowing that I am part of something that is bigger than myself and my personal ambitions. I choose to be happy and from today I choose to avail myself as a vessel unto honour in your kingdom. It is my joy and pleasure to be counted amongst your servants. Amen.

Further Reading: Proverbs 10:28