A few years ago when we were planning to move from Colorado, my husband did everything required to ensure we would end up in Virginia near my family.

He put in his request with the assignments officer for a job for which he was highly qualified. A contact from a previous installation whose civilian position equated him to a general officer put in a request for my husband which should have made the move a sure thing.

We were perfectly positioned to PCS to just the right place.

You know where this is going, don’t you?

The Army did not answer our prayers like we had expected.

We ended up in one of the two places we never wanted to go.

But the blessings we received while there far exceeded any of our expectations.

In Acts 3:1-10, we meet another man who was perfectly positioned to receive just what he expected. He was born handicapped and each day his friends carried him to a gate called Beautiful, where people entered and exited the temple. This was prime real estate for him to beg for coins from those passing by. On their way in to temple they would hand him some change in hopes of gaining favor with God or so they could worship with a clear conscience. Maybe those on their way out would be so moved by their experience they would give away their hard-earned money to the poor man. This was the place he could expect the most bang for his buck, so to speak.

So when Peter and John approached the temple, the man looked at them expecting a hand out despite their modest attire. They had no silver or gold coins to drop into his bag. But what they did have was far superior to what the man expected. They offered him healing. And this allowed him to return to society as a productive member, free from the stigma of sin associated with disability in those days.

This man sat at the door of the temple, the very place where God’s presence met His people, day in and day out expecting only coins dropped in his sack by passers by. He never expected to be restored to a full life. He was thinking small. Expecting coins when God was able to give Him real treasure.

How often do we do the same thing? Position ourselves in just the right place and look for God to help us with a promotion, a new car, or a move to the right city. We even ask for more significant blessings like healing from disease or the gift of a child. While God certainly cares for our earthly comforts and desires, He is far more concerned with our eternal needs.

Instead of asking God for short-sighted favor, lets begin to look expectantly for His great life-restoring miracles.

 

 

I’m expecting a more intimate relationship with Him.

I’m expecting His forgiveness and restoration.

I’m expecting Him to lead me in the way everlasting, even when it involves His discipline.

I’m expecting to spend eternity worshipping Him in His kingdom.

What are you expecting?

Think big. Think miraculous. Think eternal.

He is able.

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for caring about my earthly needs. Help me to see the eternal blessings You provide, especially when they come packaged in situations that feel less than desirable. Help me to keep my eyes on your eternal treasure. In Jesus Name, Amen!

“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.” Ephesians 3:20

To find out what other Jesus girls are expecting,

click over the Suzie Eller’s #livefreeThursday link up!