Expect God-things to Happen Every Day
Expect?
Yes, I expect from many sources. I hold expectations in my marriage. Or, for dreams to exceed my expectations. For employers to love my skills. And for readers to relate to my writing.
Perhaps you expect in your life too.
However, I confess: believing for the divine to occur every day is not easy for me.
Because the concept is hard for humans to wrap our heads around.
You see, we live and operate in the flesh, in the natural world.
Supernatural stuff only seems right for the movies or a book…or for heaven.
But what if divine, God-things are meant for us here on this earth? And what if the Lord intended for us to look for displays of His works in our day-to-day routine?
What if divine, God-things are meant for us here on this earth? Displays of God's works in our day-to-day lives. Share on XPsalm 105 in The Message describes it:
Hallelujah! Thank God! Pray to him by name! Tell everyone you meet what he has done! Sing him songs, belt out hymns, translate his wonders into music! Honor his holy name with Hallelujahs, you who seek God. Live a happy life! Keep your eyes open for God, watch for his works; be alert for signs of his presence. Remember the world of wonders he has made, his miracles…(Verses 1-6a).
Maybe we tell others of all the great things God has done for us. And we praise the Lord for every deed or blessing from His hand.
Yet, don’t miss the second vital part. The divine happens today and continues into tomorrow and the next day and the next.
This passage gives us 3 ways to expect the divine in our life.
1) Expect by keeping our eyes open for God.
Not wishing to see what lied ahead, I kept my eyes closed. College friends talked me into riding a roller coaster at Disneyland. Let me be clear. I’m fearful of heights, and not a fan of going upside down or dropping off steep inclines.
Read my blog post, Free Fall: When the Botton Drops Out of Your World
Life causes twists and turns, flips our world upside down, or drops us from a steep incline. Still, God is with us through it all, always along for the ride. He holds onto us as He accomplishes His purposes in everything.
We must keep both our physical and spiritual eyes open to see God’s wonders and miracles. #blog Share on X2) Expect by watching for God’s works.
A few weeks ago, my husband and I picked up our grandson, Foster, to spend the night. Our daughter sent us this picture of him watching for us to arrive.
Waiting, he probably anticipated what adventures were ahead at Mimi and Pop Pop’s house. Regular adventures like walks to see the cows nearby. And the new activities at each visit.
Do we watch for God to arrive at just the right moment? Or, anticipate what adventures lie ahead with our heavenly Father? Do we believe and watch for the Lord’s activity in our life?
3) Expect by staying alert for signs of God’s presence.
The shrill beeping from my iPhone startled me in the middle of the night. A flash-flood alert. (Alert: “quick to see, understand,” Cambridge English Dictionary).
Are we missing alerts from heaven? Or, are we quick to see and understand God’s presence among us?
Miracles even happen in the unknown. Nothing is coincidence. Instead, God is always working behind the scenes on our behalf.
God provides signs of how He performed a supernatural act, sent us on a divine appointment, scheduled a soul-encounter, or protected us from harm with His angels. Share on XThese are God-things for us and our loved ones. But also the small, yet, still miraculous things happening daily. Things we’re often unaware of and point directly back to God. There’s simply no other explanation.
Expect to access the divine:
- Because of Jesus.
- Because of Calvary’s cross and the empty tomb.
- And because resurrection power dwells in us. (See Romans 8:11, Ephesians 1:19-20, Philippians 3:10.)
Due to the divine power available to us, encore performances happen each day of our lives. Encores by grace, peace, hope, goodness, love, and mercy.
So, starting right now, today…expect.
Expect divine, God-things to happen. Things only God can pull off.
Subscribe by email to this hope community for a free E-devotional, 4 Ways Hope Changes Your Life Forever.
Images are mine and designed in Adobe Spark.
Sometimes I participate in these link-ups:
Jaime Wiebel/#SittingAmongFriends, Crystal Twadell/Fresh Market Friday, Kelly Balarie/Purposeful Faith, Patricia Holbrook/Soaring With Him, Meghan Weyerbacher/TeaandtheWord, Lyli Dunbar/#FaithOnFire & Crystal Storms/Heart Encouragement.
© 2018 by Karen Friday, All rights reserved
I already started off the day rejoicing with a friend of ours in his testimony of how God provided for him when he least expected it. He ended with these words: “Now, most people I know would say things like…”what a coincidence.” or “somebody put it there.”…in order to suggest that God was not involved in it being there (in a little sliver of light so he would instantly see what he needed). I’m sure somebody put it there, but I see it as God providing for my needs before I even asked. I tell people all the time that God cares about the little things in life as well as the big things. This was a little thing, but it reveals a big God.”
I love this: “God is always working behind the scenes on our behalf” and it causes me so much joy when God reveals Himself & how He is working on our behalf even in the little things!
I love that story, Becky! How fitting to this post. God does care about the big and small things in our daily lives. And it’s Him working on our behalf through other people or through the supernatural to accomplish His purposes for us and to give us those encore performances of goodness, mercy, love, grace, hope, and peace. Daily miracles!
I love this. I think too often God doesn’t do big things because we don’t expect Him to. We don’t believe He will. But we have an amazing God who can do unimaginable things. He is mindblowingly awesome.
Thank you, Heather. Yes, He blows us away! Expect to access the divine:
Because of Jesus.
Because of Calvary’s cross and the empty tomb.
And because resurrection power dwells in us.
The picture of your grandson waiting is priceless and such a great way to help us visualize the expectations we should have each day to see God’s divine displays. I pray for eyes to see as I slow down and wait on the Lord. Thanks for the lovely post Karen.
Yvonne, Oh, how I want to watch with eager anticipation and great expectation for my heavenly Father to show up and to show up in a big way in areas of my life needing His perfect touch!
Thank you for the encouraging words! This post is so timely for me that I will take it as a God sign, right here, on my feed, letting me know that He is present in the details. The fact that you wrote it at this time, it is also not a coincidence. What a beautiful puzzle He puts together through us and for us and His glory!
Praise the Lord, Lia! It’s amazing how much God loves us and cares for us to even present words we need to read or hear at just the right time! There are so many things happening in the supernatural realm that we never realize how God is working on our behalf. Sometimes the signs are there and they all point directly back to our Lord.
Sometimes we don’t even realize that our expectations are very well developed.
So it’s important to analyze them and watch with wonder at how God can surprise us.
We can expect to be surprised and find joy.
Amen, Nancy! “We can expect to be surprised and find joy.” Let’s keep our eyes open for God’s works, expecting the divine to come down from heaven straight into our laps and lives!
Yes, we need to be on the look out for these God sized moments.
Exactly! Starting right now, today…expect.
Expect divine, God-things to happen. Things only God can pull off.
I have added a link to this post, using your grandson’s picture to draw interest to your post. Thanks for sharing it! My post is entitled, “Where Is God?”
Thank you, Jean. Blessings! 🙂
Dear Karen, the photo of your grandson waiting for you is a powerful (and adorable) picture of how we should anticipate our Father’s love showing up in our daily lives. Thank you for reminding me to be mindful and watchful for it.
Blessings ~ Wendy Mac
Thanks so much, Wendy. I love that picture as well. And, me too. I want to watch for God to arrive at just the right moment; anticipate what adventures lie ahead with my heavenly Father; believe and watch for the Lord’s activity in my life!
I need to be more attuned to watch for His hand. laurensparks.net
We all do, Lauren. We must keep both our physical and spiritual eyes open to see God’s wonders and miracles.
Yes, be alert for God. His presence can be found anywhere and at anytime. His blessings overflow.
Right! Not missing alerts from heaven, but quick to see and understand God’s presence among us. To see His works and the blessings from His hand.
Karen, I love the picture of Foster waiting for his grandparents (you and your hubby). My husband and I just got the wonderful news we are soon-to-be grandparents for the first time! Yay! My oldest and his wife are expecting 🙂
Oh, that we would expect and believe our God wants good for His children!
Yay, Beckie! Congratulations! You will love being a grandparent. I know, that picture is adorable and melts my heart. In the same way, perhaps we melt God’s heart when we not only believe, but also expect His loving kindness and goodness in our lives. Blessings!
I see a lot of comments above about your grandson looking through the glasses. This is a powerful post about our spiritual blindness. We often simply stumble through life unaware of the miracles happening around us and the enemies falling as God eliminates threats and protects us. We don’t have those “glasses” on that allow us to bring into focus the threats that are eliminated and the good things that are brought our way. And then, of course, having not recognized them, our hearts aren’t grateful and thanks don’t spill from our lips to the Lord. This was what the Israelites did in the wilderness, and what 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 tells us we also do, urging us to be careful if we think that WE stand, when we’re actually just like them. And, I’m thinking, Oh my goodness, Lord! This is me. I do this all the time. How can I be more spiritually aware! And then, there’s that pictures of your grandson. I need to have on my glasses of faith, the ones that see and look for Jesus and his miracles everywhere. Thank you for this reminder to put on the glasses, Karen.
Such a good word, Melinda. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Yes, we are spiritually unaware of what’s going on in any given day in the heavenly realm and how it’s brought down to earth for our benefit. May we keep both our physical and spiritual eyes open to see God’s wonders and miracles.
Love the pic of your grandson waiting, Karen. What a cutie! And how sweet of your daughter to think to snap it. While reading your piece, especially the opening, I had to stop and consider my own daily expectations. It’s so easy to take God for granted, to miss His work and His whispers. You gathered my attention, God did too. Happy Friday! #fuelyourfaith
Kristi, I agree we often take God and His wondrous works for granted. May we be attentive to Him and His ways. “Keep your eyes open for God, watch for his works; be alert for signs of his presence. Remember the world of wonders he has made, his miracles.” (Psalm 105:6a)
I love the picture of your grandson. He, like most children, are very expectant of God. Their childlike faith is powerful, and one we should emulate! I love the message you point out. God does miracles every day and when we can be attentive Him and His presence, we see them. Taking time to be with Him each day gives us the lens to look for His activity in our life. Thank you for this post, Karen! 🙂
Amen, Marcie…”Taking time to be with Him each day gives us the lens to look for His activity in our life.” Maybe we tell others of all the great things God has done for us. And we praise the Lord for every deed or blessing from His hand.
Yet, we miss this vital part: the divine happens today and continues into tomorrow and the next day and the next. We set limits on a limitless God.
Love this post, Karen. As I grow in my faith, I am learning more and more to open my spiritual eyes as well as my physical ones to the ways God is working. Blessings to you, friend!
Me too, Sarah! Thank you. Life causes twists and turns, flips our world upside down, or drops us from a steep incline. Still, God is with us through it all, always along for the ride. He holds onto us as He accomplishes His purposes in everything. EVERY-thing. Blessings to you!
I am fully convinced that we minimize God’s power, His presence, and His protection over us. Whatever happened to a sense of reverence and awe, over an incomprehensible, yet loving God.
Blessings to you and your family as always Karen.
Absolutely, Rob. I totally agree we minimize our God and His power. But He’s a God who super exceeds even the maximum in all things and in all ways! Blessings to you!
Karen, what a marvelous post and reminder to always be attuned and attentive to those “little” things where God shows up in a big way. If I didn’t, through His help, pay attention to detail, I doubt I would ever write another successful blog. The Lord is in it all, from beginning to end, and that we all need to acknowledge.
Blessings to you and yours!
That’s so true, Martha. God is in every detail. We just fail to see it with our spiritual eyes and may never know this side of heaven every act on our behalf and for our benefit and blessing. Thanks for commenting.
I love this awesome encouragement Karen.It gives so much Hope.It comforts me knowing God is always working for us and for Goodness to be in our life.This is also a great reminder that God has our life already planned out and I have to choose everyday to Trust Him and believe in His truth.Thank you sweet friend for theses powerful truths.
Sweet Blessings
Sydell
Sydell, yes! I want to trust and believe in God’s plans and truth. Just like my grandson expectantly watched for us, I desire to expectantly watch for God’s wonders and divine activity in my life. Blessings!
GOD BLESS Your Family Sister in Christ-Messsiah Jesus-Yeshua Karen!!
May our ONE TRUE GOD THE HEAVENLY FATHER who art in Heaven Above Bless all my Sisters and Brothers in Christ Jesus-Yeshua and Your Families and Friends!!
Love 💕 Always and Shalom ( Peace ), YSIC \o/
Kristi Ann
Thank you, Kristi Ann! Watching and expecting for God’s divine activity in my life! Hope you are too! Blessings!
That picture of your grand boy waiting for you!! Aw! And what an illustration. Thanks for the reminder today that God is always with us and working- even when we aren’t looking!
Thanks, Bethany. I so want to not only tell others about the great things God has done, but continue to watch for Him as in Psalm 105. “Keep your eyes open for God, watch for his works; be alert for signs of his presence. Remember the world of wonders he has made, his miracles…”
Hi Karen,
Thanks so much for this timely word that I needed to see. I am in a season of unexpected and well, disappointing situations, but the Lord is encouraging me to remember that He is good, He loves me and has a plan for me. Your blog post was just the icing on the cake, that even when prayers aren’t answered the way I hoped, my God is a God of surprises. I always like to be reminded that He is working in an unseen way and I can expect great things from Him.
Blessings,
Hey Karen, You’re welcome and I’m so sorry for this disappointing season you find yourself in. I certainly am no stranger to those seasons of life. And, yes, God is always backstage in our lives working in the unseen for our good and His glory. Then the spotlight shines a light on Jesus when the watching and expecting blow us away! Blessings!
Yes, I “expect.” God things to happen but I don’t always look for them in my every day. I am so glad you reminded me. Thank you for sharing with Grace & Truth Christian Link-Up. Maree
Me too, Maree Dee! As I confessed, it’s so hard to wrap our head around the supernatural happening every day in our natural world. Yet, if anyone can pull it off, it’s not us or others, but God himself.
Thanks for reminding us to keep our expectations high for the Lord! He is faithful to deliver.
God-things and divine, supernatural things are meant for our lives here on this earth! Let’s expectantly watch and believe. Thanks for commenting, Lisa.
Isn’t it ironic, we pray and don’t expect anything or for God to show up. I know I do, I have too. I know He’s at work when I rest and don’t start fixing it myself. ( And Mimi, you are a young looking grandma. )
Thank you, Rebecca. And so true, we do pray without believing God will show up. Or, we pray for the miraculous only when we think we need a big miracle. Yet, the supernatural realm is part of our lives as believers. God-things for us and our loved ones. Even the small, yet, still miraculous things happening daily. Things we’re often unaware of and point directly back to God. There’s simply no other explanation.
We can be very short-sighted when it comes to being aware of God’s work around us and for us … unless we’re alert to it and, as you pointed out, expecting it. Thanks for the reminder. The photo of your grandson is adorable, by the way!
Thank you, Donna. That photo resonated with so many readers. And it is such a great image of expecting, watching, and waiting on our Father to show up.
Hey Karen! I love how your grandson is stairing out of the window in anticipation of your arrival. And I love the fun activities you do with him. Thanks for the grandparent inspiration!
Yes, Tiffiney. May we anticipate God’s arrival just as much! Thanks for visiting and commenting.