"Possibly one of the most devastating things that can happen to us as Christians is that we cease to expect anything to happen." Martin Lloyd-Jones

We are caught in the current of the culture and we do not even realize it. We are swept along by values, expectations, and comparison to a world that is the opposite of the upside-down Kingdom to which we belong as followers of Jesus. We expect more joy, fulfillment, and life from our culture than we do from our daily dying to self, and life to Christ (Lk 9:23, Eph 2:5). We see our faith as peripheral, not central. And therefore give little thought to how Christ desires to work in us and through us.

If I am walking with Christ I can expect that through His Spirit…

…I will be more closely conformed to the image of Christ (Rom 8:29).

…that my mind will be renewed (Rom 12:2).

…that my heart will be transformed (Ezekiel 36:26).

…that I will desire the things of God (Ps 37:4).

…that I will love my enemies, and pray for those who persecute me (Matt 5:44).

…that I will encounter the risen, living Christ (Lk 24).

…that I will grow in love and Godliness (Jn 13:35).

…that I will be generous, and open-handed (2 Cor 9:6-8).

…that I will live primarily as a citizen of heaven (Phil 3:20).

The Spirit is not stagnant. He slowly sanctifies everyone whom He indwells. But when we live with holy expectation we will begin to see the Spirit’s movement sanctifying and shaping our lives more deeply than the culture.

Lord, forgive us for not expecting, not desire our lives to be different as a result of walking with you. May we expect to be different as a result of encountering you daily, moment by moment, again and again. For Your glory and our good, amen.

With expectation,