Great Expectations....

Have you ever noticed how 2 people can be getting ready to either go to the same thing, or do the same thing, but their expectations for the same event can be completely different. I find this very interesting that 2 people could experience the same thing, yet their expectations going into it could be so different. And I find this same attitude exists in the church as well.

Yesterday as I was getting ready for church I could feel the expectations for what God could do that day building inside of me. There was an excitement rising up in me for how God would show up that morning in service. And even though we never know "how" God will show up, the one thing we can be sure of is that He will show up. As I thought about this I began to see our congregation in my head...picturing the people during worship. As I did, I could see those that I knew would be lively in their praise and worship toward God and then I could see people (not faces) that were just there. This "vision" (if I could call it that) only lasted a few minutes, but it brought me to a very interesting place as I headed out the door for church. I realized how sad I was for the people who were just going to "attend" church that day. Because they only thing they were going to get from that was a check-mark on their list for the week. Almost like....cleaned the house this weekend, check....watched the game this weekend, check....attended church this weekend, check. How sad. I say sad because I know that this is not at all how God wants us to enter into His house. In fact, Psalms 100 says things like "shout for joy to the Lord", "worship the Lord with gladness...with joyful songs", "know He is God...He made us, we are His", "enter His gates with thanksgiving...praise" and the best part "for the Lord is good and His love endures forever...". This is how we are to come to Him! Not because we had a great week, or we are in special need of a blessing today...but because He is already good to us, He is faithful and His love is always available to us. So why would we not show up at His house expecting great things. Expecting to feel His presence, His peace, His joy.... Expecting to have a heavenly encounter with Him! We should! 

But why doesn't everyone? My answer is short would be this....because we receive what we showed up expecting to receive. I have seen it time and time again. God pouring His very presence down on those who are pouring their praise out to Him. They came expecting to receive every bit of Him as they were giving every bit of themselves back to Him. 

I fully believe that God smiles when we go into our secret place, our devotional time or our church services expecting Him to show up. I think He loves the condition of our heart when we expect to hear from Him....when He can see the eagerness inside of us to see what He has in store for us in that moment!

God, I'm sorry for the times I "attended" church, prayer time...or any time with you and didn't come with gladness in my heart expecting to hear from You. Please help me to always know that You want to show up for me, and with me, all the time. However it is my attitude, mindset or ungratefulness that prevents me from experiencing what You have in store for me. Help me to leave all distractions aside when I come before You. And to come expecting great things from You as I offer up my prayers, my praise and my worship to You! In Jesus name, Amen.