“Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” — John 7:38
Awaken O Church … week day devotionals
Don't let your week days become “weak” days. Read or listen to Awaken O Church, our daily devotionals designed to awaken, encourage, and strengthen the Church.
Monday — 27
Unmet Expectations
by Randall D. Kittle
In the revolutionary war, there was a brave soldier from Connecticut who valiantly served our country. In one battle, he boldly led his troops despite breaking his leg in the fighting. He also helped win the second battle of Saratoga, in spite of being badly wounded. The Boot Monument in Saratoga has statues that honor the other three generals who led troops in the battle. But, there is no statue of this brave general from Connecticut ... only a small plaque with his name ... General Benedict Arnold.
One of the things that caused Benedict Arnold to turn from celebrated General to infamous traitor was that he suffered unmet expectations. Although he had bravely served his country, five younger men were promoted to the rank of Major General before he was. When he was overlooked for promotion, his expectations were shattered. He felt like his country had betrayed him, and bitterness and resentment grew in his heart.
We too need to be careful not to hold so tightly to our expectations as to become disgraced and disqualified by bitter disappointment. The Scripture says, “those who hope in the lord will not be disappointed.”
One of the things that caused Benedict Arnold to turn from celebrated General to infamous traitor was that he suffered unmet expectations. Although he had bravely served his country, five younger men were promoted to the rank of Major General before he was. When he was overlooked for promotion, his expectations were shattered. He felt like his country had betrayed him, and bitterness and resentment grew in his heart.
We too need to be careful not to hold so tightly to our expectations as to become disgraced and disqualified by bitter disappointment. The Scripture says, “those who hope in the lord will not be disappointed.”
Tuesday — 28
Hold Fast in Days of Doubt
by Randall D. Kittle
In John 6, Jesus turns to the twelve disciples and says, “Do you also want to go away?” What caused Jesus to ask such a question?
I believe Jesus could read the look of astonished disappointment and shattered expectation that clung to their faces. They had watched Jesus' ministry grow from a few followers to great crowds following Him everywhere He went. Doubtless, they were pretty pleased they had hitched their wagons to the right star. But now, just when all their expectations seemed about to be fulfilled, Jesus teaches a crowd of more than five thousand followers, and the result of His teaching was dramatic … thousands of disciples turned and walked away from Jesus’ ministry. Doesn't sound like a great lesson in church growth. And that's exactly what the twelve disciples were thinking. Their expectations had not been the same as God's plan.
If God's plan for your life has caused your expectations to be shattered, hold fast to the One who is Faithful and True. Like Peter may your response be, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
I believe Jesus could read the look of astonished disappointment and shattered expectation that clung to their faces. They had watched Jesus' ministry grow from a few followers to great crowds following Him everywhere He went. Doubtless, they were pretty pleased they had hitched their wagons to the right star. But now, just when all their expectations seemed about to be fulfilled, Jesus teaches a crowd of more than five thousand followers, and the result of His teaching was dramatic … thousands of disciples turned and walked away from Jesus’ ministry. Doesn't sound like a great lesson in church growth. And that's exactly what the twelve disciples were thinking. Their expectations had not been the same as God's plan.
If God's plan for your life has caused your expectations to be shattered, hold fast to the One who is Faithful and True. Like Peter may your response be, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
Wednesday — 29
Having His Plans
by Randall D. Kittle
As we follow after God, it can be easy to develop our own plans, instead of waiting for His plan to unfold. As we begin to treasure our plans in our hearts, we form expectations on when and how they will come to pass. To set us free from these expectations the Lord may come as a stone of stumbling, causing our plans to fail and become broken like a crystal vase dropped upon the pavement.
It's hard to be at the place of broken expectations — where all of your hopes and plans, even those things that seemed so good and noble, are shattered and unrecoverable. But this may be necessary before we can receive God's plan for us. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”
The Lord desires us to have His plan — not our goals and agenda. God wants all of our expectation to be in Him and from Him. Until we come to the place where we can say with the Psalmist “My soul waits silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him.”
It's hard to be at the place of broken expectations — where all of your hopes and plans, even those things that seemed so good and noble, are shattered and unrecoverable. But this may be necessary before we can receive God's plan for us. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”
The Lord desires us to have His plan — not our goals and agenda. God wants all of our expectation to be in Him and from Him. Until we come to the place where we can say with the Psalmist “My soul waits silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him.”
Thursday — 30
Raise the Bar
by Randall D. Kittle
When I was in middle school, my neighbor had a high-jumping pit in his backyard. He and I would go out and practice high jumping. We would literally spend hours practicing our style jumping over the bar, always set at four feet and one inch. One day my father came over and said, “Raise the bar! Put the bar up to five feet.” In obedience I raised the bar, which now seemed to stare right back in my face. I went back to try to jump it, and to my amazement I cleared the bar without even touching it. As I looked at my father in wonder, he explained to me that as he watched me practicing, he'd know for quite some time I was able to jump this high. He knew I could do it ... only I didn't know it.
I believe our Heavenly Father is saying to many in this day “Raise the bar!” He is calling us to lift up our sights and increase our expectations. He has known for a long time that we were created and destined for more than we currently have. God is wanting to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask, think, or can even imagine. He has been patiently waiting for the right time to say, “Raise the bar!”
I believe our Heavenly Father is saying to many in this day “Raise the bar!” He is calling us to lift up our sights and increase our expectations. He has known for a long time that we were created and destined for more than we currently have. God is wanting to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask, think, or can even imagine. He has been patiently waiting for the right time to say, “Raise the bar!”
Friday — 31
Increased Expectations
by Randall D. Kittle
These are perilous days in which we live. The world seems to be covered with a deep darkness, and sin is everywhere abounding. Like a turtle drawing inside its shell, some believers want to isolate themselves from this dark and wicked world. Yet believers should not be despondent, we should actually increase our expectations of what God's doing on the earth. Romans 5:20 says, “But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.” And dear friends since sin is abounding, that means grace will be abounding — not in the same measure, but a greater, abundant measure, as the Scripture says “much more!”
So let us increase our expectation of what the Lord is doing on the earth. God is granting in this day more grace to overcome the wickedness and sin we so easily see all around. Lord give us more opportunities to share the Gospel ... more salvations ... more miracles ... more of Your power. Not only more Lord, much more!
Let our expectations join with that of all creation, which “waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.”
So let us increase our expectation of what the Lord is doing on the earth. God is granting in this day more grace to overcome the wickedness and sin we so easily see all around. Lord give us more opportunities to share the Gospel ... more salvations ... more miracles ... more of Your power. Not only more Lord, much more!
Let our expectations join with that of all creation, which “waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.”