Are You Expecting?

 "Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God." (Acts 3:1-8). 


    When a woman is having a baby, we use the expression, "she's expecting". This means just what it sounds like. She's "expecting" to have a baby soon. When she is expecting, she doesn't just sit and wait until the baby comes. She doesn't just ignore the fact that the baby is on the way. She is "expecting". She is preparing. She makes room for this miracle. She names her baby, she gets everything she will need for the baby. She eats healthy, she avoids things in her body that could harm the baby, she tells everyone she is expecting. It's all she thinks about day and night. She feels it moving, and gets excited the closer to the delivery she gets.

      It is the same with us in our Christian walk.  God has promised us miracles. He has promised us deliverance, healing, blessings, answers, direction, salvation, and many other gifts. Do we just sit and wait for God to birth this miracle in our lives while we go on with our daily lives? Do we ignore the promise and hope that some day it will be birthed in us? Or, do we actually begin expecting the miracle as the woman expects this baby?  Do we make room for it? Do we name it? Do we tell others that we are expecting it? Do we get excited when we think about it? Do we think about it day and night? Do we do everything we need to do in order to receive this miracle?  If we expect, we will receive. It takes faith to expect when we don't see it yet. It takes faith to wait and expect when the circumstances look like it's not going to happen. If we wait on God, expect, believe and look to Him, He will deliver. He will keep His promises and He will never fail.

If you are discouraged today, are you expecting God's hope? If you are sick today, are you expecting His healing? If you are struggling with the past, are you expecting God's forgiveness? Are you expecting His strength when you are weak? He can give you any miracle you need, but you must expect. Anticipate. Long for. Prepare for. The expectant mother delivers her miracle. When WE expect, GOD delivers!

      So, are you expecting?