“Our hope for you [our joyful and confident expectation of good for you] is ever unwavering”
II Cor 1:7 AMP

Do you expect good things to happen?  Stop and think about this question for a minute.  When you start your day do you have a positive expectation, or do you have a more “realistic” attitude, that whatever could go wrong, probably will?  When a situation arises, do you make assumptions or jump to conclusions that err on the side of a negative outcome or a positive one?

In today’s verse, Paul was expressing great confidence that God had good things in store for the Corinthians.  His hope never wavered that through whatever challenges they faced, or mistakes they made, there was a positive outcome for them.

Today, I want us to look at the heart issues that produce positive or negative expectations and attitudes in our lives.  I believe God showed me this very plainly: Our own ideas of our own worth determine our level of expectation.  It really boils down to do you believe you deserve good things?

Sometimes our past, our upbringing, our experiences leave us feeling we are not worth very much, so therefore we shouldn’t expect much.  In fact, if we risk expecting good things we will only end up disappointed.  Can anyone relate?  Unfortunately, I think we all can.  Somewhere along the road, I believe each of us has felt devalued and unworthy.

Yet, that is not how God sees us and it’s not how He feels about us!  Romans 8:32 says:  “He who did not withhold or spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things?” How can we argue with this? If God wants good things to happen, I guess we should to!

So, what do you do when faced with a negative situation, or a circumstance that hasn’t changed for years?  How can we believe when our experience tells us things will never change?  That’s when we have to believe God’s Word in spite of what we see.  We choose to look for and expect the goodin the face of the bad.

This week, think about the areas you may be carrying negative expectations, of yourself, your kids, or your spouse.  Ask God to show you what His plan is in that situation, and to help you begin to believe for that.  It does not matter how last year was or how your health or finances were. THIS year can be different.  Your past does not determine your future…thankfully!  Each of us can face tomorrow with great expectation for great results, regardless of where we are right now!

Raise your level of expectation and believe that God wants to do great things in your life.

Prayer: Thank You for wanting more for me that I even want for myselfand for my family.  I pray over the areas of my life that I need to increase my level of expectation, or change my expectations to positive ones.  Send me promises that will speak to these areas, in Jesus’ name, amen.