Live without Expectations
This past week I was blessed with the opportunity of sharing the gospel in Haiti; at least that’s what I thought I was going to Haiti to do, however, God had other plans for me. I’m the type of person that likes to distinguish everything. I always require a list or agenda of things that I need to get done. What can I say, I’m a planner. While on the plane to Haiti, I even made a list of expectations that I sought to achieve for the duration of my stay in Haiti.
- God to change my heart for people of all nations
- Experience the beauty of God in a different light
- Learn to open up to people that I don’t know
- Spend time resting in the Lord
- Make a child smile
- Share my testimony
- Share the light of Jesus
Later I found this list to be irrational. I was telling God, what I desired Him to do for me instead of trusting what He was doing for me. Every morning I spent a portion of my quiet time praying to God asking Him “What do you want me to do today God?” I sat there praying until a word or phrase came to me. Afterwards I would go about my day, leaving the list at home. At the end of the day I picked up the list and wrote on the back how I achieved the Lords requirement for me that day. Surprising enough it worked! I didn’t have control over any part of my day. I couldn’t control where we were going or what we were doing. I just had to go with the flow and let God work. That’s precisely what I did, and that’s what he desires to do in all of our lives.
God’s not this signer of checklists that we sometimes make Him out to be. We can’t just make a list of what we want God to do for us in our lives and give it to Him to sign off on. That’s just not how God works. He wants us to fully commit our lives to Him. To love Him enough to trust Him with the things that He desires us to do. One of my favorite verses in the bible is Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” God has plans for each and every one of us. They might not be as glamorous or as amazing as the next persons, but that’s ok. What God has for you is for you and only you!
I find it funny that when I look up the definition of live it says “remain alive.” How powerful is that? Some of us don’t get the opportunity to just live life! I challenged you today. Live your life expecting nothing. Don’t make checklists or to-do lists. Find the beauty in living life day to day! Tomorrows not promised! There is a chance that your life can be over in a few hours. Can you honestly say that you lived your life to the fullest? Can you say you are allowing God to control every aspect of your life? I leave you with these few verses. Meditate on them. Reap the promises that God has for you. Most importantlylive life without expectations!
Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Ephesians 3:20 “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,”
Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
God Bless
Brittine 🙂
