Great Expectations
We create our own frustrations when we set our expectations on what we want instead of what God wants.
Since Jesus went through everything you're going through and more, learn to think like Him. Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way. Then you'll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want.
1 Peter 4:1 (Message)
God used this verse to remind me that breaking the habit of wanting my way is temporarily painful but will ultimately result in my freedom. Let me explain....
When we base our hopes or expectations on what we want, we are saying that we know what is best. We may not actually think this at the time but this is what our behavior demonstrates.
We decide how a situation should work out and then that is what we expect. When the end comes and it is not what we thought it should be we feel frustrated and irritated.
We get all bent out of shape when we don't get our own way. We might grumble and complain and we may even say that God let us down. So we try to figure out another solution.
To be honest with you, this is pride. Our understanding of any situation is limited by our minds and perceptions. We only know our side of the story. We have no idea what the big picture really is, but God does. God always knows what is best and we would save ourselves a great deal of difficulty if we kept that in mind.
The Bible teaches us to make plans loosely and lay them at the feet of Jesus. We have been gifted by God with a mind and the ability to use it. We can dream and make plans but then we have the responsibility to share them with God and ask Him to do what He thinks is most advantageous for us.
Jesus understands how we feel because He lived on earth as a man, submitted to God. He even prayed, "Not My will but Your will be done" (Luke 22:42 NKJ). He knows the suffering we encounter when we don't get what we want but He also demonstrated how we can avoid it.
Learning to accept what God wants for us over our own desires frees us from experiencing the struggles that come when we don't get our own way.
I would much rather have what God wants me to have than my own plans because God's littlest gift is bigger and better than my largest request.
Experience the joy of pursuing what God wants.
Heidirn
Since Jesus went through everything you're going through and more, learn to think like Him. Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way. Then you'll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want.
1 Peter 4:1 (Message)
God used this verse to remind me that breaking the habit of wanting my way is temporarily painful but will ultimately result in my freedom. Let me explain....
When we base our hopes or expectations on what we want, we are saying that we know what is best. We may not actually think this at the time but this is what our behavior demonstrates.
We decide how a situation should work out and then that is what we expect. When the end comes and it is not what we thought it should be we feel frustrated and irritated.
We get all bent out of shape when we don't get our own way. We might grumble and complain and we may even say that God let us down. So we try to figure out another solution.
To be honest with you, this is pride. Our understanding of any situation is limited by our minds and perceptions. We only know our side of the story. We have no idea what the big picture really is, but God does. God always knows what is best and we would save ourselves a great deal of difficulty if we kept that in mind.
The Bible teaches us to make plans loosely and lay them at the feet of Jesus. We have been gifted by God with a mind and the ability to use it. We can dream and make plans but then we have the responsibility to share them with God and ask Him to do what He thinks is most advantageous for us.
Jesus understands how we feel because He lived on earth as a man, submitted to God. He even prayed, "Not My will but Your will be done" (Luke 22:42 NKJ). He knows the suffering we encounter when we don't get what we want but He also demonstrated how we can avoid it.
Learning to accept what God wants for us over our own desires frees us from experiencing the struggles that come when we don't get our own way.
I would much rather have what God wants me to have than my own plans because God's littlest gift is bigger and better than my largest request.
Experience the joy of pursuing what God wants.
Heidirn
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