Barnabas Ministries UK

Rev. E. Anderson

EXPECT OR EXPECTATION

These are closely connected words that in a good and positive sense contribute greatly to the pleasure of life. When such is present in person there is a healthy conviction that something good is on the way, therefore there is a wholesome anticipation of what is to be.

The word is defined in the dictionary as ‘to look forward to; to regard as certain or likely to happen, to require as due; prospect of possessing. Expectation is described as the ground of confident anticipation. The word is akin and linked with hope and belief.

It is a vital factor in life that an individual has birthed within them good hopes for today, tomorrow and the future, to know certain conviction that great and beautiful things are going to occur within their journey on earth. Whilst it is freely acknowledged, there will be occasions of sorrow and pain and difficult stages to be negotiated, nevertheless, there should be present and prevalent the anticipation of choice events and experiences that will make living meaningful and joyous.

To those who have a dynamic relationship with God they will know what it is have divine expectations placed within them by God – Psalm 62: 5. One cannot be closely associated with Him without having choice things implanted by Him within the mind and heart of a prophetic nature that He purposes to bring to pass. When His Holy Spirit dwells within and when His Word is read, received and believed, there will be the begetting of wonderful promises regarding this life and world that will surely come to pass. God desires that those who belong to Him become pregnant with great prospects here and now and to see them brought to fulfillment by His grace and power and in His time.

The Bible is a book that sees this particular feature very much to the fore in so many people. For instance, God came to a man by the name of Moses when he was seemingly an abysmal failure to originate in him hopes for His people and himself. When all was in a negative condition and evidently appearing to be in an impossible state, He assured him that he was to be Israel’s deliverer and that this nation would know a tremendous deliverance. In Exodus 3 one can read of the divine expectation that was birthed in this man in the midst of a desert. History affords us with the account how the expectation came to full realization.

An overall study of the Bible shows how this occurred again and again. A woman is barren for many years by the name of Hannah but she knew that God was able to do something about this empty estate, that he could cause her to be pregnant and fruitful and so prayed and believe until she got an answer. Before she began to expect physically she was pregnant spiritually and so brought forth her first child to be a person of renown.

When the Lord gives expectation it is never to disappoint. In Proverbs 23: 18 it states ‘Thine expectation shall not be cut off.’ Having placed such high hopes within you the Lord has no intention of letting you down with regard to such but of seeing them wrought out for His glory and your blessedness.

“May hope – expectation ever be a bright part of your life’s equipment” – Crowell

PRAYER

Let my relationship with you be so wholesome that you may be able to implant your expectations within me and aid me to live in their knowledge and inspiration.