Expecting Him – devotional
Editor’s Note: This is a guest submission by Maria Drayton, who has generously shared her writing with us many times before! I’m grateful, Maria.
Expectation. Sometimes I like to reflect over my life and remember times when the Lord showed up for me. The days that He would answer my prayers quickly and I would just sit in amazement of His ability. His ability to reach into my life and make His presence known. Nowadays, I don’t have to look back too far to see His hand in my life. Typically, if I look-I find Him. Things weren’t always this way. The days and nights of fighting back tears and heartache have not been removed from my mind or heart. What has changed, is my mindset. I expect good things. I expect Him.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
I remember mornings of waking up and never feeling as if I had even slept. The spirit of depression so heavy that even in the morning I was exhausted. I knew my thoughts were not right but I didn’t know how to stop them. How many times have we been told to renew our minds? But no one ever told me how to change how I think. I had to make a decision and choose to believe scripture instead of my own thoughts.
Here are some scriptures that I posted around my home and memorized that help to renew my mind:
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
James 5:16
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
We do have a present enemy. And he resides in our minds! 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 tells us, “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
This is an ongoing process and I still have yet to arrive at a completely renewed mind but now my days start with expectation. Not expectation in me, not expectation in my job, not expectation for my husband, I am expecting the Lord! Now when I start my days they are full of excitement and hope instead of dreading the day’s events.
It’s infectious too! When we start expecting Him and expecting good things; others also are affected. I even bought my son a sign for his bathroom a few weeks ago that said, “Today only happens once; make it amazing!”
Now I don’t want to say every day is a great day but what I will say is now every day is a God day!
Heavenly Father, thank you for this day and everything in it. You alone have given me the ability to handle everything that comes my way today. I welcome You into my workplace, into my home and most importantly into my heart. I’m looking for You today and I’m waiting expectantly for Your arrival.
Psalm 118:24
This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it!
