This past Christmas, my son had a huge expectation of getting a specific Lego set. He talked about it for months leading up to Christmas. Every time we went to the store, he pointed it out.
Christmas morning came, and…
…it wasn’t under the tree. When we had the opportunity to purchase the set, we didn’t. We thought we could get it later. We couldn’t.
Fortunately, he was very gracious and happy with the Lego sets he did receive.
Expectation is a part of life. Sometimes they are met, and sometimes not.
As I kick off 2012 here at the blog, we could talk about the expectations we have of a better year, a healthier life, deeper spirituality, a more pleasing work situation, and so on.
But, I would much rather take a step back and wonder if you have any expectations about…
…Worship.
Where does expectation fit into your journey of worship this year?
Individually and corporately?
- Do you expect that God is with you each day? Guiding you on your journey and hearing your hopefully heartfelt expressions of worship?
- Will you enter times of gathering and worship with the expectation that God will reveal Himself?
- Is it a right expectation that God will show Himself in a potentially different way than He might show Himself to you individually during the week?
- What would it look like or what might happen if we anticipated God showing Himself in the midst of a corporate gathering because we had already experienced His presence during the week?
The ideas of expectation, worship, and encountering God are very much connected. The worship patterns of the Mosaic period and David period involved expectation of God’s presence. The Israelites had an expectation of the Messiah coming to rescue them. The disciples expected and waited for the coming of the Holy Spirit because Jesus told them to wait.
Expectation involves waiting on the Lord, but also looking forward to and anticipating His arrival. We have reason to be people of expectation all year long, not just during the season of Advent. Jesus said that where two or three are gathered in His name, He would be among them. He also promised to never leave us.
Our worship is an act of response to God. Response to His presence, His purposes, and His promises. Response to Him. We call out to God as the Psalmist did, knowing that He hears and responds to His people. Our daily act of worship is living in obedience and submission to Him.
Are you expecting to meet God each day? Each time you gather with other believers.
At each gathering, great or small, come with an expectation to encounter God. Live this year with a confident expectation that God will do what He says and be who He is.
It’s not always easy. It might not always be overtly obvious that anything is happening. Sometimes it might have to just be a conscious choice of faith.
Even so, as King David did, choose to live and worship in expectation of God this year.
Ask for it.
Believe it.
And then, worship.
For Discussion:
How do you think you might do this?
