Great Expectations
We get what we expect. It is part of how faith works.
Hebrews 11:1 (KJV) states:
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
In the God’s Word translation (GW), it is worded like this:
Faith assures us of things we expect and convinces us of the existence of things we cannot see.
When you go to the mailbox to get your mail, what are you thinking? Are your feet dragging, because you expect there to be bills, legal notices, or some other bad news? Or are your steps light because you are hopeful of getting something good- maybe money or positive news from a friend or relative? We get what we expect, or believe.
At various times we all decide to believe something, whether good or bad. And because that belief is in our hearts, it comes out of our mouths in the words we speak.
A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. Luke 6:45 (New International Version, NIV)
And, my friend, once it comes out of the mouth, it sets supernatural laws of faith in motion. You might say that there is a “faith formula”, and this is what it is:
BELIEF IN THE HEART+ SPEAKING IT OUT THE MOUTH= YOU RECEIVE WHAT YOU BELIEVE
It’s true- that’s how it works. Romans 10:9 is a prime example. Therefore, it is important what we believe. We must be sure to have positive expectations, no matter how things may appear to be going. Because sooner or later, what is in your heart will come out of your mouth. And then eventually you will have the very thing you were expecting, whether it was good or bad. This is why some people do not get healed when they come to a healing service or have other Christians pray for them, especially if they have been sick for a long time. Deep down in their hearts, they are expecting to be disappointed- they are expecting to stay sick. And their words show it. That is why it is so important to put the Word of God in your heart so it can shape your expectations.
If you are sick, get in the Word and ask the Lord to guide you to the right healing scriptures to stand on. No matter if you are depressed, or in debt, or in legal trouble, or whatever, there is scripture to cover it all. If you aren’t sure how to find a verse on which to stand, go to a Christian bookstore and ask them to show you a Bible promise book, which lists scripture verses according to the topics they address. There are a number of them on the market, and it is a great resource that every Christian should own. Then read the verses that speak to your heart about your situation daily. Say them out loud. Eventually your heart will believe what you are saying, and then the manifestation will come. It is not an overnight thing- it is a process and will take some time, but it works.
Let the Word shape your beliefs and expectations, not your circumstances or unbelieving people around you. When you do, there really is no limit to the great things God can do for you.
