EXPECTATION
Acts 3:1-11

At the time Elijah took his stand and prayed for rain to cease, it was with expectation and indeed there was a manifestation when rain ceased to fall for three and a half years. Elijah said to King Ahab, “As the LORD God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.” (1 Kings 17:1) Elijah was full of expectation by his declaration that there would be no rain except at his word. Indeed and in truth, God honored Himself in the declaration of Elijah that stated “as the Lord lives” (a power provocation in the move of God’s hand) When it was time for rain to fall, the same Elijah prayed again with expectation and there was manifestation as the rainfall. The persistency in the prayer for rain to fall was demonstrated in the period of going back and forth of Elijah’s servant, under the command of Elijah to check on the cloud of rain, “Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, “There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!” So he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.’” (1 Kings 18:44) Manifestly, rain fell because the man of God operated with a doubtless expectation that brought forth undeniable manifestation. The same God in the Old Testament and the New Testament is still in the business of answering prayer. Are you seriously expecting Him to do His miracle in your situation or you are only respecting when you see what He is doing in other peoples’ situation? There have to be a conscious and deliberate expectation to come out of deliberate exploitation of the wicked one. A certain lame man, satisfied with small alms, condemned to the gate of the temple, had an expectation before his story was changed for good. The Bible recorded that this certain lame man at the juncture of his miracle; saw Peter and John on their way going into the temple but without expectation for healing he asked for alms as usual. What you have been asking is the evidence of your level of faith that is directly relevant to your limitation in life. The certain lame man was redirected from just receiving alms, “…Look at us.” (Acts 3:4) When you ask without looking you have lock out of your miracle while opened to just alms. As a result of the redirection of his attention, “…He gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.” (Acts 3:5) Asking without looking up to Him is asking with no attention for expectation. The certain lame turned around to look in his asking by giving attention, expecting to receive. Choose His precepts, practice the word you will prevail in the world of challenges.

Prayer for today: Let Your hand become my help, for I have chosen Your precepts (Psalm 119:173)