What is My Expectation Today!

I know for myself that I may become discouraged or disappointed (to the point of sin) when I have an expectation that is not met. Or from the other point of view, I can become discouraged or disappointed when I have an expectation and things turn out much worse than I anticipated.

Let me clarify by an example

A few weeks ago while driving I had an expectation that traffic would be moving at a good pace, and I had an expectation of how long my drive would be. Well, I did not expect road construction and a 40 minute delay.

Are you getting my point about incorrect expectations?

This week I was reading Milton Vincent’s The Gospel Primer in the section titled “All Things Crucified, Part 1” the author supplies the shortest sentence in the entire book on page 40:

“Crucifixion hurts”.

Here is what the shortest sentence in the excellent book caused me to think about.

Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

I need to put on the correct expectation that as I live my life today I should expect that my obedience to Christ maybe hard, may be challenging, after all crucifixion hurts! If I have a proper expectation I cannot be discouraged or disappointed.

As we go about our lives we should not be surprised by trials, inconveniences, or any other thing that may cause us to sin. Crucifixion hurts! I desire to have a proper expectation that I may face things not going as I have wanted or expected. Crucifixion hurts!

Prayer
Lord, I desire that when I sin because things did not go as I had expected, that I would be quick to confess my sin (1 Jn 1:9) and repent.