Monday, January 12, 2009

Great Expectations

My son and I recently had an exchange that went something like this:
Mr. B: I want juice.
Me: I will get you some juice as soon as I'm done with what I'm doing.
Mr. B: I want my juice now. Stomp, stomp. Cry, cry. Pout, pout.
Me: Until you can behave properly I am not going to get you any juice. If you want juice, you can ask nicely and wait for me to finish what I am doing. Then I will help you. But I expect you to wait patiently for me to finish what I have started before I can help you.

You may see where I am going with this. It occured to me this past week in a very real & personal way that the Almighty One is my dad. He's not just some random heavenly being hanging out in the clouds, but my father. And like any parent worth their salt, he expects me to behave properly while I wait for His plan to unfold.

When I truly think of our heavenly father as my dad, that is when the "a-ha moment" happens.

As a parent, it brings me great joy to fulfill my children's hearts desires. I delight in doing good things for them. God is the same way.

As a parent, I feel like I know what's best for my kids. Sometimes they ask for things that I know are not right for them and I have to say no. God is the same way.

As a parent, I don't sit around planning bad things for my kids. God is the same way.

It has been made clear to me that I am in a season of waiting. Not waiting down in the pit of despair. Not waiting in the mud & mire, but waiting expectantly.

I need to wake up each day, lay my requests at my Father's feet, and wait for something amazing to happen. When I begin each day praying, hoping & expecting something great my whole perspective changes.

By faith I can be filled with joy & gladness because I know my Dad makes the best plans and I believe He something amazing in store for me.

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4

In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.
Psalm 5:3

9 comments:

Lena Just Lena said...

You wrote "I need to wake up each day, lay my requests at my Father's feet, and wait for something amazing to happen. When I begin each day praying, hoping & expecting something great my whole perspective changes."

This is a GREAT post. I'm striving? (wrong word) to surrender and wait expectantly.

Thanks for sharing your aha moment. I am blessed to call you friend.

Hugs,

Lena

CG said...

Absolutely glorious, and so wise! I am blessed to call you my sister and friend! You inspire me upward.

Amanda said...

Ahh! Welcome back and thankyou for sharing that.

As I go through seasons of heavier prayer recently, I try to remember not to "stomp and pout" but ask Him expectantly but also humbly, submitting to His providence.

There have been toooo many stomp and pout requests here lately on my end. :~(

Glad you're back, friend!

Kathy Eden said...

I don't have much to add to what the others have already said. Beautiful post...thank you for sharing!!! Glad to have you "back." :o)

blessedfamily said...

First, welcome back! Second, as many other before me have said.. great, GREAT post!

junglemama said...

Thanks for sharing. So true.

Michelle said...

I am expecting for you :)

Lisa said...

I think I am in a season as well,a season to grow stronger in my faith,a season for my husband and I to grow stronger as a couple.I hope this season will bring a new life to me and will open every door that I have been praying for.If not then I will keep loving my God and praise him even more.You are a beautiful person and you encourage me more that you know,and I don't even know you but on here I love to hear you...

Katy said...

Thank you for this post, my friend....AWESOME insight....As blessed as I am, there are days I want to stomp loudly in this process...I needed that. =)