Confident Expectation

Please Welcome Paula Powell to the Internet Cafe!

Are we surprised when God answers us? Maybe? Sometimes?

I was push mowing my yard and had 15 minutes remaining. I was in the front yard and felt something hit my head. Of course, my natural reaction was to wipe my head. As I did and then looked at my hand, I thought, “Oh, wouldn't you know I'm going to have bird doo-doo on me." Nope. Hmmm. Then I turned the corner, faced the driveway, and saw it....rain drops on the driveway. Oh no! If only I had not stopped to get some water and pull a few weeds, I would be done! I can't have a partially mowed yard; my house is for sale! It was almost like I held my shoulders up and said, "Lord, please let me finish this yard." I then affirmatively thought, "it is not going to rain until I'm finished." It was as though I claimed it from the Lord.

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16

Isn't that exactly what He did...provide grace to help me finish my task at hand? Without realizing what I did...I approached His throne with confident expectation.

I forgot I had asked this favor of the Lord until I lay in bed. I got so distracted after mowing that I didn't realize it had never rained. Or maybe it was confidence and expectation that He was going to answer and supply my need. Pondering on this and feeling a little sheepish that I didn’t thank Him earlier, I thanked my Lord for His goodness. I was absolutely sure it would not rain.

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

So why at times do I waiver in my confident expectation of Him answering in other areas? If He cares about whether it rains and I finish mowing, doesn't He care about larger things like the condition of my heart, the plans for my future, my heart desires, ministry, and service?

God IS present in all aspects of our lives. He DOES care about the small things. What if I hadn't been able to finish?

It'd have to wait for another day. But instead, God wanted me to accomplish my task. Maybe so I'd "see" that He is in every aspect of my life. Maybe so I could feel His deep love in the small things so that I'd be assured He is working in the large areas of my life. Maybe so someone reading this would be assured that her Lord loves her like no other does.

Henry Blackaby says, “After we pray, whatever happens next is God’s answer.” If we pray and earnestly seek God for answers, then we should expect Him to answer and look for His answer. Maybe we miss His answer because we are focused on the answer we want and when we don't see that answer, we think He's just not answered.

Confident expectation is the faith, confidence, and anticipation of what God will do for us, in us, and with us.

To ask God for something and not anticipate Him providing, seems pointless. I have a positive anticipation of what God is going to do in a specific situation of mine. What I believe will occur in my life seems impossible to the human eye but we serve a God whose specialty is the impossible and He holds the title of Chief Miracle Worker. I feel like little Johnny who has asked for the big red fire truck for Christmas and he knows he will get it. Little Johnny is excitedly anticipating the arrival of this truck. He just can't wait to get his hands on it. That is much of what I feel. Confident expectation means we anticipate God will answer, perform, provide, or deliver but we have to wait on His timing and continue to trust for that to come.

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. 1 John 5:14-15

Are you approaching His throne with confident expectation? Are you waiting with anticipation for His answer?

Lord, help me to stay confident and expect Your working Hand in my life. May I remember Your magnificent love and ever-residing presence. Nothing is too great for You to accomplish and nothing is too small for Your concern!

Trusting and Anticipating Him,

Paula

Paula is a woman in love with Jesus and realizing that His ways are not her ways. Life has found her traveling alone right now but believing God for a miraculous restoration of what He united. While enduring this trial she is growing closer to the Lord knowing He has plans for her (Jer. 29:11) even if they have not been as expected. God is working for the good in her life (Rom. 8:28) and that is a wonderful thing. Trusting that He's working and has a plan for her brings so much peace. She's recently began sharing her love for writing about God publically on her blog. She is looking for God to open many other doors in women's ministry and expanding her venues to write.

You can find Paula daily at her personal site, www.hisways-isaiah558.blogspot.com