What Are You Expecting?

"Seek and ye shall find...."

Sometimes, the things we "find" in life stem from what we set out to find, or expect to find.  It's the basic principle of reaping and sowing, and it holds true whether we find ourselves in troublesome situations or in triumphant ones. 

If we sow apple seeds, we expect to find an apple tree growing in that spot, not a fig tree or any other tree.  Why is it then, that we act so surprised when certain things turn out the way they do?  If we sow bitterness, anger, rage, jealousy, impatience, etc., why are we surprised when we reap trouble and confusion?  What are we expecting?

When a woman is pregnant, she is said to be "expecting."  Everyone already knows that what she is expecting will be a baby, because that's what comes to life as a result of the union of sperm and egg.  The only questions about what the mother is expecting concern the gender of the baby, the estimated delivery date, and the number of babies growing inside.

So, the question is, what are you pregnant with?  What is growing inside of you and preparing to be birthed in due season?  What are you expecting?  Whatever you are expecting will be determined by what you have allowed to enter into your life. 

If we lay down with someone who clearly wanted to be with us "only for one night" as Luther Vandross would say, why would we expect them to stay around and parent a child they were never interested in having?  In fact, why are we ever really surprised when a child is conceived as the result of sexual intercourse--isn't that what God designed it to do?  Hello? What are we expecting?

When we allow God's Holy Spirit to enter into union with our spirit, we can expect the fruit of the Spirit to begin growing inside of us--love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness and self control. We may not know exactly which fruit we are preparing to birth and how much fruit is growing, but we know that we will have a live, fruitful birth.

On the contrary, when we lust after the things in the world that are contrary to the fruit of the Spirit, we are preparing to give life to death.  It's as if we have birthed a stillborn baby.  James explains it this way "...after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death" (James 1:15).

When a woman delivers a stillborn baby, it is immediately evident that the child is dead.  Sin, however, is deceptive.  When we allow sin to be birthed through us, it appears as though we have delivered a live, healthy baby.  But, that which appears to have life is nothing more than a dastardly double agent that will ruthlessly turn on its host and deliver a slow, torturous death.  So, why do we keep playing around with sin and getting disappointed when we end up burned instead of blessed?

We know that God continually does exceedingly, abundantly above all we could ask or imagine.  We also know that Jesus came to give life-- and life more abundantly-- and, that the Holy Spirit leads us and guides us into all truth.  So, when we truly desire God, in all of His trinitarian splendor, He enters into our lives and fills us with joy unspeakable--in spite of life's trials and tribulations. 

When we allow the Father, Son and Holy Ghost to fully indwell our mind, body and spirit, we give life to life--a powerful, productive and purposeful life-- that eventually leads to eternal life.

Life or death.  It's our choice and we will have whatsoever we choose.  If we look closely at who and what we have embraced and welcomed into our lives, our expectations will become evident. 

Look around you....  Look inside of you.... What are you expecting?

BNcouraged!

Rev. Karen