What Are Your Expectations for the New Year?

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD – Isaiah 55:8 (NIV)

Let me ask you some questions: What are your expectations for 2011 based upon? How much are you really expecting God to do in, through and for you in this New Year? How much of your expectations is coloured by your past experiences? As we prayed for this New Year the Spirit seemed to be saying; ‘Do not tailor your expectations to fit your experiences. Let your expectations remain based on what God is saying’.

God doesn’t look at things the way we do. He says:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” – Isaiah 55:8-9

Not only are his thoughts (how he sees things) and his ways (how he goes about things) different from ours, they are also higher than ours. Where you may look back at an experience in disappointment, God might actually be seeing a rich experience which is part of his work in progress in your life. And where you may look back in self-satisfaction, God might be calling you away from the complacency that stifles God-born expectations. So, what are your expectations for 2011 based upon? Let us ask God to help us tailor our expectations to measure up to all that he is saying to us – nothing less, nothing more.

Are you expecting victory over that sin that easily entangles you or have you come to terms with it just because you have tried in the past but failed? Are you expecting to bear a lot of fruit this year? Are your expectations big enough for your family, community and nation? Are you also lifting up your eyes and catching a vision of God using your prayers, giving and presence even among the unreached nations? Are you expecting God’s promises to you to still come to pass or have you lost the excitement because you have grown weary of waiting? Are your expectations based on what God has said?

For no matter what has or hasn’t been in this past year, we need to have this settled in our hearts: God is committed to fulfilling his promises. Here is how he declares his commitment in this passage:

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. – Isaiah 55:10-11

In the above passage we see why our expectation or faith in God is crucial for the accomplishing of God’s purpose in our lives. The word or promise that God sends is likened to the rain and we are the earth on which it falls – through which it bears fruit. But it is not just rain and earth that gives the harvest. There is the need for good seed to be in the ground or else, though the rain may pour down on the earth, only weeds will spring up. That seed is our faith or expectation.

Beloved I believe we are living in a wonderful season of the outpouring of God’s grace. God is raining upon us right now the rain of grace through his Word that he is sending to us. With every word God sends comes grace to ensure its accomplishment. But no land receiving this rain is going to bring forth a harvest (Hebrew 6:7-8). It will depend on the seed in it – and this seed is our response to God’s word – it is the response of faith. It will depend on our responding with expectations that match what God is saying. This is what will bring the budding and flourishing in our lives.

So as we enter this New Year let me ask you again,“What are your expectations and what are they based on?” The only way to have the right expectations is to start by asking: ”Lord what are you saying to me concerning this year?“ He will show you in simple ways. He will put his thoughts in your mind. Don’t be afraid to accept and believe them.

I will continue from here next week.  May the Lord enable you to be faithful and fruitful in this New Year. Happy New Year!