As we close out 2019 and enter into 2020, we're reminded of a principle in God's Kingdom. You reap what you sow. One does not sow corn and expect watermelons to grow. One does not sit around thinking about all of the bad things that has happened to them in the past and expect joy. One does not work day and night and expect to live in poverty. One does not drive their car like they stole it and expect to never receive a ticket for speeding or reckless driving.

Quite often, you receive what you are expecting.

If you walk into the church expecting to see hypocrisy - you'll see it.

If you enter into a service expecting it to be the same old routine - that's exactly what it will be.

If you begin into worship wandering if it'll be over soon - it'll be the longest and most annoying experience ever.

You reap what you sow, you receive what you are expecting.

If you walk into the church looking forward to seeing your brothers and sisters in Christ, you'll be glad you came.

If you enter into a service expecting a fresh word and revelation from God, you'll be left in awe.

If you begin into worship in adoration of who Jesus is, you'll have a powerful encounter with Him.

You reap what you sow, you receive what you are expecting.

Now, God is God and He may take you by surprise, but this general principle is true more often than not.

What are you expecting?

For many, 2019 was a turbulent year of challenges and difficulties.

What are you expecting?

The Lord says:

Isaiah 66:9 (NCV)

…"I will not cause pain without allowing something new to be born,”

(repeat)

I remember Becky reading through the book often while pregnant with Nathaniel, "What to expect when you are expecting." It helped prepare her for some of the new experiences that she would likely encounter while expecting her firstborn son. It assisted her in navigating her way through all of the changes, excitements, fears, surprises, joys, and scares of pregnancy.

The Bible is such a book for us who are born again. It teaches us what to expect while we're expecting. It teaches us some of the ups and downs, joys and oppositions, successes and failures that we might experience while expecting to receive the fullness of our salvation. It reminds us of the promises of God which we can put our hope, faith, and trust in and what we can expect on the journey to their fulfillment.

God's promises come to us in a seed form much like a newborn baby. We go through seasons much like the trimesters of pregnancy. We experience pain and fear much like childbirth. We receive what has been promised just like the joy experienced while cuddling that new baby for the first time. We learn to steward and explore those fulfilled promises in new ways just like every first moment in that child's life as they grow and mature into adults.

2019 may have been a turbulent year of challenges and difficulties, but God will not cause pain without allowing something new to be born.

What are you expecting?

If you're not sure, just ask those around you to be honest with you. What you speak of and how you speak of it reveal the meditations of your heart and mind - they reveal what you are expecting.

It's time to trade in our disappointments, our failures, our grumbling, our everything and trade them all for the Lord's promises. It's time to lay down on the altar those things that we think are right, those things that we do out of obligation or tradition and truly humble ourselves before the Lord.

Isaiah 66:2-3 (NCV)

2 …“These are the people I am pleased with:

those who are not proud or stubborn

and who fear my word.

3 But those people who kill bulls as a sacrifice to me

are like those who kill people.