I AM EXPECTING….
God to show up!!
Did you know that EXPECTANCY is the perfect swap for anxiety?! I learned that and so much more this past weekend at the ladies’ retreat I went to with my church family.
All I can say is Woo-hoo, hands raised high!! God showed up in such a powerful way that I am still unpacking all the wisdom I was given, the hurt/pain that was discarded, the tears that were shed, AND the joy, laughter, and love that was shared throughout the weekend with my sisters!!
Our main teaching was by Beth Moore, “The Basket Case.” I highly recommend this study to anyone who has ever experienced anxiety. Is anyone out there besides me?!
One of my biggest takeaways was the wisdom that I shared above, “Expectancy is the perfect swap for anxiety.”
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Unfortunately, anxiety plagued a lot of my younger years. I can remember, especially when it came to health problems, I always expected the worst-case scenario. If I had a bad headache, must be a tumor. Sore throat, strep infection. Chest pain, heart attack. I was suffering so much with worry and expectation of illness in my body that it was affecting all areas: mind, body, and soul.
I need to share this about that time period of my life. The enemy ran with the circumstances of my life at that time to personify and exaggerate the fears I was experiencing in my life. At the height of these problems, my mom had just died of cancer at the age of 39, so the enemy made me very aware that I could suffer the same fate.
Joyce Meyer explains it this way, “When I was expecting something bad to happen, my expectation was from Satan. If we are not careful, this expectation will open the door to Satan’s evil plans for our lives by waiting for bad things”(Meyer, Joyce, emphasis mine).
Wow. I had no idea that I was giving that kind of power to the enemy. At eighteen, I was broken, crushed, and hurt so much that I was an easy target for the evil in this world that seeks to destroy the Will God has for my life.
Are you giving more power to the enemy by focusing on the evil forebodings of….
“It’s always been like this, why would he/she ever change….”
“I’ve been sick for the last ten years, why should tomorrow be any different…”
“They’ve been addicted for half their life, and I’ve been praying just that long, it’s hopeless….”
NO! Not Anymore! DO NOT GIVE MORE POWER TO THE ENEMY!!
EXPECT GOD TO SHOW UP AND GIVE THE POWER TO HIM ONLY!!
Over the last few decades, GOD has changed me! He can change you too! Those fears have not been a part of my life for a very long time! Praise God!
I am expecting God to show up by:
Expecting JOY over my circumstances…
Expecting a healing…
Expecting clarity…
Expecting redemption…
Expecting love…
Do not expect tomorrow to be the same, because God has the power to change your circumstances at any given time! Tomorrow may be that day! Expect Him to show up and work mightily on your behalf!
Remember, when we seek God and expect good things, we open the door to God’s plans.
Train your focus to be “up” on God, not “down” on your problems!
All the glory to God,
Shanon
Image of “Great Expectations” by Suffering to Glory-the Inner Soul by theinnersoulinme.com
Image of Lamentations 3:25, “The LORD is good to them…” by biblepic.com
Meyer, Joyce. “Expecting Something Good to Happen.” joycemeyer.org. Web.
Moore, Beth. “The Basket Case.” Living Proof Ministries. 2017.
All 
ar. Here is an excerpt from his page on the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial website:
I cannot think of “Some Gave All” without thinking first of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. “And if you ever think of me, think of all your liberties and recall, some gave all.” Jesus died and gave all to show His own love for us (John 3:16; John 15:13), to reconcile us to God (1 Peter 3:18), and to give eternal life to all who believe in Him (John 3:36). There IS glorious, awesome freedom in Christ Jesus.
Several people I know have had challenging, fearful situations lately. Job loss, health problems, disabilities, and family emergencies are some of the difficulties they have faced. Fear can easily take root when we are dealing with a case of the “unknowns”. “What if I can’t find another job?” “What if I need surgery?” “What if…?” One of the things fear forces us to do is to decide to either put our faith in action according to God’s promises or regard the scripture as simply words on paper, “simply repeating what God says” (Chambers, June 4th).
hen the spirit moves me! So, if you ever see me bopping around my house, singing loudly to Casting Crowns, you know the Holy Spirit is coming alive in me to conquer the fear that the enemy is trying to have taken root in me.
Heaven Sent Sentiments 