Expectations
I struggle with this idea of expectations. Are they my expectations or are they the expectations someone has handed off to me? Do I know why I am expecting? Are they fair expectations? Should I even have expectations? What are healthy expectations? What happens when it doesn't meet my expectations?
Those are just a few of the reasons I struggle with this idea. I guess I'm not sure how to properly set expectations. In all honesty it works out best when something goes beyond your expectations. I guess the hardest thing is not to set the expectations out of selfish interest or desires, then why are we setting them in the first place? This gets very confusing and frustrating.
Have you heard people say that you should pray expectantly? I remember the first time I heard someone say that, I was taken back. I wasn't sure how I felt about and I still do not know where I land on this idea. My common sense tells me that you will get an answer to the prayer, so I guess my question would be "do my expectations of the prayer matter?" The only way I think this is yes is if you do not expect it to be answered.
I am getting ready to go to a yearly training for work and my expectations are that it is going to be a waste of time, just like every year. Now having said that, if my expectations were high my attitude would be different. I would be much more excited about it. Maybe that's it.... If we have good expectations of something we will have a much better attitude regarding it. I mean I accepted Jesus as my Savior and I expect to go to heaven.... I guess what would be the point if I didn't expect that. Wow! This is making a little more sense to me. But Jesus tell us that would happen.... I here year after year that "things will be different this year" at work, but unfortunately it isn't. Profit always rules people.... Always.... OK I just go on where I got off?
I guess my human nature tells me to have expectations, but we are told in the Bible that our human nature leads to sin. How many times have you heard "that is just human nature". Most of the time we or they are trying to explain something away. So I still struggle with expectations... Is just human nature or should we have them?
My expectations for my car are to start everyday as long as I take care of it. I expect my faith to grow as I spend more and more time studying, praying, with God, etc. I expect my wife to be with me in good times and in bad. I expect this computer to work properly. I expect to have to pay my mortgage each and every month. I expect the sun to come up everyday. I could go on and on, but these are almost unwritten expectations. What about relationships, ministries, Churches, jobs, health, emotions and all other things we do not have control over, but yet we put expectations on them.... Why? Human nature or are we letting the enemy in?
God I pray that you help us with our expectations..... I expect and answer..... Amen.
Those are just a few of the reasons I struggle with this idea. I guess I'm not sure how to properly set expectations. In all honesty it works out best when something goes beyond your expectations. I guess the hardest thing is not to set the expectations out of selfish interest or desires, then why are we setting them in the first place? This gets very confusing and frustrating.
Have you heard people say that you should pray expectantly? I remember the first time I heard someone say that, I was taken back. I wasn't sure how I felt about and I still do not know where I land on this idea. My common sense tells me that you will get an answer to the prayer, so I guess my question would be "do my expectations of the prayer matter?" The only way I think this is yes is if you do not expect it to be answered.
I am getting ready to go to a yearly training for work and my expectations are that it is going to be a waste of time, just like every year. Now having said that, if my expectations were high my attitude would be different. I would be much more excited about it. Maybe that's it.... If we have good expectations of something we will have a much better attitude regarding it. I mean I accepted Jesus as my Savior and I expect to go to heaven.... I guess what would be the point if I didn't expect that. Wow! This is making a little more sense to me. But Jesus tell us that would happen.... I here year after year that "things will be different this year" at work, but unfortunately it isn't. Profit always rules people.... Always.... OK I just go on where I got off?
I guess my human nature tells me to have expectations, but we are told in the Bible that our human nature leads to sin. How many times have you heard "that is just human nature". Most of the time we or they are trying to explain something away. So I still struggle with expectations... Is just human nature or should we have them?
My expectations for my car are to start everyday as long as I take care of it. I expect my faith to grow as I spend more and more time studying, praying, with God, etc. I expect my wife to be with me in good times and in bad. I expect this computer to work properly. I expect to have to pay my mortgage each and every month. I expect the sun to come up everyday. I could go on and on, but these are almost unwritten expectations. What about relationships, ministries, Churches, jobs, health, emotions and all other things we do not have control over, but yet we put expectations on them.... Why? Human nature or are we letting the enemy in?
God I pray that you help us with our expectations..... I expect and answer..... Amen.
posted by Andy Rainey at Tuesday, January 31, 2006
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home